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Coup Watch February 2023 – Junta’s violence and incompetence exacerbates economic woes

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Key summary points:

  • As of 28 Feb, there were at least 20,831 armed clashes and attacks, displacing 1,329,700 people since Feb 2021. Junta troops continued their violent crimes.
  • The junta sentenced 4,683 people to prison terms since the attempted coup according to newly acquired data from the AAPP, doubling previous estimates. The regime’s digital coup and information blockade hampered accurate reporting of their crimes.
  • Junta courts rejected ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal against a three-year sentence on two charges. The regime denied ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint access to their lawyers.
  • NUG officially opened a liaison office in Washington DC to foster and strengthen diplomatic ties.
  • The regime continued its campaign of terror against civilians. Regime troops abducted seven civilians including two children who were later decapitated. Junta forces and affiliated militias burned alive a 70- year-old nun, marking the 3000th confirmed civilian death since Feb 2021.
  • Junta leadership targeted Rakhine State as the stage of their latest propaganda tours. Regime ministers visited “repatriation” camps intended for Rohingya refugees and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing attempted to curry favor from businessmen and locals in Sittwe. Both visits garnered much criticism.
  • The junta’s shortsighted economic policies caused Burma’s rice market to spiral into further chaos. Chevron’s exit from Burma spelled significant losses for the regime’s cashflow. Swiss food giant Nestlé announced plans to halt production in Burma citing poor economic conditions.
  • ASEAN showed continued signs of division through member states’ differing approaches on Burma but have yet to prove themselves truly willing to hold the junta accountable.

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