News Monitor #5
NOVEMBER 2025

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NEWS ROUNDUP

• The junta released thousands of political prisoners in an amnesty ahead of next month’s national election, widely described as a sham.

• Scam center crackdowns ramped up, with the Karen National Union, the U.S., and junta all undertaking operations; however, cybercrime remains rampant amid claims that the junta’s crackdowns have been performative.

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Myanmar nationals.

HUMAN RIGHTS & SECURITY

• In Myawaddy, junta forces raided and used explosives to demolish buildings connected to scam centers. But as the New York Times has reported, despite the “demonstrative show of force,” workers quickly relocated and resumed operations, and no kingpins were arrested. 

• The Karen National Union (KNU) called for international cooperation after discovering and raiding a massive scam hub in Myawaddy Township on November 23. Around 2,000 workers were detained, including over 750 foreigners from eight countries. Junta-linked scam centers continued operating in Central Shan State and other restive regions.

• The UN’s human rights office warned that the junta may undertake mass surveillance at polling stations during the December elections using AI biometric tracking to monitor how people vote.

ARMED CONFLICT

• Chin State: Tensions between the junta and CNA continue with airstrikes around Taingen Village to clear the way for its troops with the capturing of Taingen on November 9.

• Mon State: Staged events are increasing in preparation for the junta upcoming sham election resulting in clashes between resistance forces and junta troops in Dawei District.

• Kachin State: On November 24th a heavy weapon shell fired by a combined group of KIA insurgents and so-called PDF terrorists exploded in front of a civilians house in the Waingmaw Township, two critically injured.

• Kayin/Karen State: Villagers fled to Thailand due to fighting on November 21 between junta and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) forces near Lay Kay Kaw in Myawaddy Township, while hundreds of others remained trapped. Kawkareik and Hpapun Townships also saw intense fighting, with junta troops sustaining heavy casualties.

• Kayah/Karenni State: On November 4, 2025, a junta airstrike hit a Karenni State Police Force post in Demoso Township, killing three resistance police officers and a civilian, according to the Interim Executive Council. At least four bombs were dropped potentially including a suicide drone.

• Rakhine State: Fatalities mounted in Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U, Rathedaung, Kyaukphyu, and Pauktaw Townships, with at least 22 killed in November. Seven villagers died and dozens injured during a November 28 junta airstrike Kyautaw Township. The Myanmar Navy continued shelling along the Gwa Township coastline in the south. 

• Shan State: The junta and Pa-O National Organization (PNO) - an allied militia - attacked civilians in Pekon Township in the south on November 22, killing three female farmers, amid clashes with anti-junta Karenni forces.

• Ayarwaddy Division: Clashes unfolded between junta and Arakan Army (AA) forces across coastal areas, underscoring the escalating conflict across strategic coastal corridors.

• Bago Division: Between 8- 11 November 2025, at least 71 junta soldiers surrendered  or captured during clashes with the Arakan Army across fronts, including Laylar Mountain and Defence Equipment Manufacturing Factory 16. 

• Magway Division: On November 19, 2025, airstrikes by a fighter jet from Meiktila Air Base (BAF) on Kyatthouktwin village, west of Natmauk Township, killed three civilians and injured at least ten others, three critically, despite no active fighting occurring in the area. 

• Mandalay Division: In the Myingyan District, joint operations by junta forces, People’s Defense Forces (PDF), and Special Police Commando units have resulted in repeated clashes over four months, with significant casualties on the junta’s side. On November 4, the PDF killed at least eight regime troops in a guerrilla attack on a checkpoint at Lelthit village in southwest Mandalay.

• Sagaing Division: On November 13 eight civilians were killed and more than 50 injured after a paramotor strike launched from the Northwestern Regional Military Command in Monywa hit the maternity ward and patient room of a hospital in Kanni Township.

• Tanintharyi Division: November 10 clashes in Launglon Township marked the launch of a large-scale offensive by the junta.

HUMANITARIAN, ECONOMIC & SOCIAL CONDITIONS

• A cholera outbreak in Mizoram State, India - thought to have originated in Chin State - affected displaced Myanmar nationals and locals and prompted a border shutdown by Indian authorities, impacting trade and causing medicine and fuel prices to rise in Rakhine State, which relies heavily on imports from Bangladesh and India.

• Unseasonal flooding in early and mid-November destroyed rice harvests across northern Shan State, exacerbating food insecurity and economic crisis, and damaging critical infrastructure.

• The UN appointed Gwyn Lewis as the ad interim United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Myanmar. Lewis previously served as the UN’s resident coordinator for Bangladesh.

U.S. INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL
POLITICS DIPLOMACY

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for thousands of refugees from Myanmar (Burma), saying the situation was now "safe for Burmese citizens to return home" and that the upcoming sham elections will be "free and fair." The statement contradicts a recent statement read by the U.S. Mission to the UN at the September Rohingya conference during the UN General Assembly, which read, "We reject these elections under current conditions."

• Following a hearing in the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Burma, bipartisan Congressional leaders from the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee released a statement, urging the Trump Administration to “speak out against” these “flawed elections” in Myanmar. 

• The U.S. Department of Justice created the Scam Center Strike Force to “secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.” The Strike Force Burma Team targeted two scam centers and the U.S. imposed sanctions on the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a junta ally.

• Belarussian Dictator Lukashenko paid a “goodwill visit” to Myanmar General Min Aung Hlaing.

ROHINGYA CRISIS

• Seasonal illicit migration ramped up, causing new risks to refugees seeking passage from Bangladesh to Malaysia by boat. A boat sank near the Thai-Malaysia border in early November, causing dozens of deaths by drowning. Amnesty International warned that the Rohingyas’ plight continues to worsen.

• On November 21, the Myanmar Navy fired on a wooden boat carrying 400 Rohingya from Cox’s Bazar; the refugees were taken to Sittwe for processing.

• The Bangladesh government, UN, United Council of Rohang (UCR) and other representatives participated in a ceremony marking the legalization of SIM card possession by refugees. Critics discussed UCR’s promotion of Bangladesh interests while claiming to independently represent the refugee population.

DOMESTIC POLITICS

• The junta released hundreds of political prisoners in a November 27 pre-election amnesty. The group of freed prisoners included U Kyi Toe, former Information Committee chief and senior aide to Aung San Suu Kyi. U Kyi Toe had been imprisoned since 2021.

• The junta discussed plans to hold elections in the three townships of Rakhine State still under its control (Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung.)

BUSINESS, TRADE & NATURAL RESOURCES

• A Pacific Forum report published on November 24 discusses the emerging importance of Kachin State in global supply chains, producing tens of thousands of tons of rare-earth elements. But the authors warn that conflict, environmental damage, weak infrastructure, and reliance on China for processing poses major risks to ethical and stable management.  

• The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) began allocating gemstone mining plots to Mogok residents ahead of its planned November 20 withdrawal from the region following the October ceasefire signed with the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC).

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