Global Myanmar regime election protests over weekend
Demonstrations against Burma’s military regime 2025-26 elections swept across cities in Asia, Europe, and North America over the weekend. From San Francisco, California, to Berlin, Germany, and from Oslo, Norway, to Tokyo, Japan, as well as Daegu and Seoul, South Korea, protesters called the regime elections, set to begin on Dec. 28 and continue into January 2026, a “sham.”
“We called on all countries not to recognize the elections. The Myanmar military is terrorizing and oppressing the Myanmar people. So it is a sham election that will prolong the military dictatorship,” said a Myanmar national living in Japan on the condition of anonymity, who joined Sunday’s rally in Tokyo in advance of Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.
Hundreds of Myanmar nationals living in Japan joined Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Cambodians, Belarusians, Iranians, and North Koreans on the streets of Tokyo on Dec. 7. They carried banners calling for the release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, along with 22,000 other political prisoners in Myanmar. Read more
Drone strike kills three civilians in Kachin’s Hpakant
Three members of a family were killed in a drone strike on Malaungywarthitkone village of Hpakant Township, Kachin State, on Sunday, according to residents. Hpakant is located 94-158 miles (151-254 km) west and northwest of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) headquarters of Laiza.
“A husband, wife, and their 13-year-old child were killed instantly by a drone attack. A seven month old infant survived,” a Hpakant resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Regime forces deployed at the strategic hilltop military outpost in Hpakant fired drone and artillery at residential areas targeting civilians, according to residents.
A mother and her son were reportedly injured by a drone strike on Hpakant’s Malaungywarthitkone village on Dec. 6. Fighting between KIA-led resistance and regime forces over control of Bhamo Township, located 118 miles (190 km) south of Myitkyina and 56 miles (90 km) southwest of Laiza, has been ongoing since December 2024.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met regime leader Min Aung Hlaing during a visit to Naypyidaw on Dec. 7. (Credit: Regime media)
Thailand Foreign Minister visits regime in Naypyidaw
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow made a one-day visit to Naypyidaw on Sunday, according to the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry and regime media. He met with regime officials, including its leader Min Aung Hlaing, its Prime Minister Nyo Saw, and its Foreign Minister Than Swe. The regime agreed to maintain stability along its 1,501 mile (2,416 km) long border with Thailand.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow said that the regime’s 2025-26 elections will contribute to “an important political transition and a part of the broader peace process [in Burma],” according to a Thai Foreign Ministry press release and a regime media report on Dec. 8. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation on narcotics suppression, cyber scam operations, and border security.
The Thai Foreign Minister invited Naypyidaw to Bangkok for an international conference on global online scams Dec. 17–18. The regime said it briefed the Thai delegation on its “efforts” to curb cyber scam operations. They also discussed reopening the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, which connects Mae Sot, Thailand, to Myawaddy, Karen State, and has been closed by the regime since Aug. 18.
News by Region
MANDALAY—The People’s Defence Force (PDF) told DVB that three regime columns coming from Madaya Township launched simultaneous attacks against its positions in Singu Township last week. Singu, located 34–57 miles (54–92 km) north of Madaya and Mandalay, was seized by the PDF in July 2024.
“Each column has around 400 troops,” a PDF spokesperson in Madaya told DVB, adding that it is fighting regime forces. A PDF spokesperson told DVB that the military has recaptured almost all of Madaya, located 24 miles (38 km) north of Mandalay. The PDF claimed it seized 35 regime outposts in Madaya in July 2024.
MON—Four pro-military militia members were killed and at least four others were injured after a resistance group calling itself Ye Belu attacked an administration office in Aryutaung village, Ye Township, on Sunday. Ye is located 95 miles (152 km) south of the state capital Mawlamyine.
A spokesperson from the group told DVB that 70 pro-military militia members were deployed inside the administration office in Aryutaung. The group said that it will continue attacking military targets and claimed that it detained three military personnel, who fled from the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 586, on Nov. 30.
SHAN—Residents from seven villages in Lashio Township told DVB that the regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) held a voting demonstration with security provided by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on Dec. 3. The MNDAA handed over Lashio to the regime on April 22.
A Lashio resident told DVB that the seven villages are located between the regional capital Lashio and Mongyai, a town 56 miles (90 km) southeast of Lashio. UEC and other officials have been checking household lists against voter lists in Lashio since Dec. 1, according to residents.
YANGON—At least 114 residents from various townships were arrested in November, according to a group calling itself the Rangoon Scout Network. It told DVB that over 20 military conscription age male residents, 18 to 35, were handed over to regime authorities after being detained.
Forty-three residents were released after paying bribes to soldiers, the group’s spokesperson told DVB, who added that they filed missing persons cases to the relevant township police for the 51 residents still being detained by the local regime authorities at undisclosed locations.
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