Myanmar Domestic News Updates – Oct 18, 2025 Morning
📌📌 1. UN Ambassador Discusses Persecution of Human Rights Defenders in Myanmar at the United Nations
October 17
Radio NUG
A discussion on the situation of human rights defenders was held in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs) of the UN General Assembly in the afternoon of October 16, 2025.
During the session, Ms. Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, presented her report and highlighted the challenges faced by human rights defenders around the world, including those in Myanmar.
She urged governments to incorporate concrete protections for human rights defenders into their national policies.
The discussion was attended by representatives from around 30 UN member states. U Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, also addressed the session, presenting the current situation of human rights defenders in Myanmar.
Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasized that every individual has the right to protect human rights, to peacefully expose violations, and to be safeguarded from reprisals by the authorities. However, in many countries, including Myanmar, human rights defenders continue to face threats and attacks.
He explained that since the February 2021 military coup, human rights defenders in Myanmar have endured arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, abuse, life-threatening persecution, and extrajudicial killings.
He further stated that many defenders have been detained without legal justification, subjected to door-to-door raids, unfair trials, and inhumane prison conditions, including restricted access to food, water, and medical care, leading to numerous deaths in custody.
In addition, he said the military junta has issued arrest warrants for human rights defenders, forcing many into hiding or exile. Not only defenders themselves but also their family members are being persecuted through false charges and politically motivated prosecutions.
He noted that within 56 months since the coup, women accounted for 25% of those killed and 20% of those arrested.
In particular, female human rights defenders have been targeted by the junta in its campaign to suppress the revolution. They face arbitrary arrests, torture, and unjust imprisonment, while the junta uses digital surveillance technologies to monitor and harass them, employing gender-based shaming, online abuse, and disinformation to destroy their image and silence their voices.
Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun urged the United Nations to continue documenting the junta’s crimes against humanity and human rights violations, to firmly reject the junta’s fraudulent elections, and to strengthen international protection and recognition of human rights defenders and their roles.
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📌📌 2. EU Will Not Recognize Myanmar Military’s Election, Says EU Human Rights Envoy
October 17
Radio NUG
After the ASEAN–EU Civil Society Forum and the ASEAN–EU Human Rights Policy Dialogue held in Malaysia on October 16, Kajsa Ollongren, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, told Malaysiakini that the European Union (EU) will not recognize the upcoming election planned by the Myanmar military regime for December 28, 2025, as it will neither be free nor fair and is intended solely to entrench military control.
She urged the Myanmar military to change its behavior, end all violence, and engage in genuine dialogue to resolve the country’s conflicts peacefully.
“By refusing to send observers, imposing sanctions, and calling for an end to hostilities, we are showing that we do not recognize or legitimize them,” she added.
She further expressed that the EU expects ASEAN nations to continue their involvement and pressure in addressing the Myanmar crisis, noting that the situation in Myanmar is causing regional instability and adversely affecting neighboring countries.
Since the February 2021 coup, revolutionary forces have gained control over large territories across Myanmar, and even the junta leader himself admitted on October 15 that the military council no longer has administrative control necessary to hold a nationwide election.
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📌📌 3. Recently Released Political Prisoners from Thayet Prison Rearrested at the Prison Gate
October 17
Radio NUG
The Justice Network for Political Prisoners (JNPP) reported that political prisoners released from Thayet Prison in Magway Region under the so-called “amnesty” were rearrested immediately at the prison gate.
JNPP stated that across Myanmar, many recently released political prisoners have been rearrested at prison gates and charged again under new arbitrary sections, with such incidents increasing in frequency this year.
One such case occurred on October 13, when Ko Si Thu Naing, who had served a five-year sentence under Section 17(1), was released but then rearrested at the prison gate.
He was detained for two nights at Thayet Police Station, charged again under Section 52(a), and returned to Thayet Prison on October 16, according to reports.
JNPP also confirmed that in recent weeks, four other political prisoners from Thayet Prison experienced the same pattern—released under amnesty and immediately rearrested upon release.
The organization declared its determination to expose and oppose these continued violations, demand the complete release of all political prisoners, and pursue genuine justice and the rule of law.
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📌📌 4. Dead Body Found Dumped in Taunggyi; Missing Youth Found Dead in Aungban
October 17
Radio NUG
Local sources reported that in Taunggyi, southern Shan State, the body of a man who had been killed was found dumped from a vehicle on Saw San Htun Street in the city center.
The body bore stab wounds, severe injuries, and one ear had been cut off, according to eyewitness accounts.
Police officers from Station No. 1 and Station No. 2 arrived at the scene and transported the body to Saw San Htun General Hospital. Shwe Pann Police Station is reportedly reviewing CCTV footage to trace the perpetrators, but no arrests have been made yet.
Separately, in Aungban Town, the body of a 25-year-old man was discovered around 5 a.m. near Mingalar Lake.
He was identified as a resident of Nyaung Pin Htaw Ward, who had been missing for about three days.
The near-simultaneous discovery of dead bodies in Taunggyi and Aungban marks the first such dual occurrence in southern Shan State.
This report was filed by Radio NUG correspondents Khur Shel and Padeh Phoe.
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