Tag: ISP DATA MATTERS

In Myanmar, the combined number of internally displaced people and refugees having crossed a border due to conflict from 1989 to May 31, 2022 has exceeded 2.5 million (2,589,112). Of these, 1,009,190 (combined before and after the coup)are refugees who have fled the country and 497,200 are people internally displaced due to the various armed conflicts before the coup. The rest 1,082,722 represents the number of new IDPs increased since the coup on February 1, 2021 until May 31, 2022 due to clashes between State Administration Council (SAC) forces with both ethnic armed organizations and other local armed forces (such as the PDF/LDF/CDF/CNDF/KNDF).

Myanmar’s foreign trade topped US$16 billion during the first mini-budget period set by the State Administration Council (SAC). Exports accounted for nearly US$8.3 billion, while imports added nearly US$8 billion. Overall trade value declined in this period over the previous financial year by more than US$160 million. Trade with China during this period brought in more than US$4.2 billion, a drop of more than US$1.3 billion for the same period last year.

In the aftermath of the military coup between February 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022, a total of 209 people have been sentenced to death or life in prison, as well as a combination of death sentence and life imprisonment in connection with anti-military activities. Of this total, 117 were sentenced to death after their arrest or sentenced to death after warrants issued for them, six were sentenced to life imprisonment and death after their arrest, 86 were sentenced to life in prison after their arrest. Out of 209 who are facing these most severe penalties, 202 are from Yangon Region, accounting for 96.7 percent of the total; the remaining seven are from Ayeyarwady Region, accounting for 3.3 percent of the total. Among those who were sentenced to death after the arrest, two are boys under the age of 18. 

Artillery attacks and fire destroyed at least 22,299 buildings, including homes and religious structures, between February 1, 2021, and May 26, 2022. Sagaing Region saw the heaviest damage with about 15,530 houses burned or destroyed, accounting for about 69.7 percent of the total. Magway had the second highest with 4,822 buildings burned or destroyed, or 21.6 percent of the total. The remaining 1,947 buildings, accounting for 8.7 percent of the total, were burned or destroyed across Mandalay, Tanintharyi, and Bago Regions, and  Kayah, Chin, Shan, and Karen States.

The State Administration Council (SAC) has seized at least 586 buildings between February 1, 2021, and May 20, 2022, in connection with anti-coup protests, according to data compiled by ISP-Myanmar. Sagaing Region saw the highest number of seizures, with 159 homes and other buildings sealed off, followed by Yangon Region with 122 seizures, Mandalay Region with 88, Magway Region with 48, and Ayeyarwady Region with 47. ISP-Myanmar arrived at these figures by compiling data from media reports and other independent organizations. Actual figures could be much higher.

Since the military coup, at least 4,679 clashes have taken place nationwide between February 1, 2021 and May 15, 2022. These include armed conflicts between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and State Administration Council forces, People’s Defense Forces (PDF/LDF/CDF/CNDF/KNDF) and SAC forces, clashes within the EAOs as well as fighting between SAC forces and local guerrilla forces as well as other unknown groups. A closer examination shows that fighting between SAC forces and EAOs accounted for about 3,107 of the 4,679 clashes. Another 1,380 occurred between SAC forces and local PDFs. Some 106 took place within local PDFs, while 41 occurred within EAOs, and 20 took place between unknown groups and SAC forces. 

More than US$407 million in foreign investment entered Myanmar during the first four months of 2022. January saw the largest share with investments topping US$260 million. Only about US$24 million entered the country in February. Investment in March jumped to over US$116 million before plummeting to only about US$6 million in April. ASEAN accounted for the largest investment during this period with about 54 percent of total foreign investment. China accounted for about 13 percent of the total with US$51 million.

At least 5,646 civilians were killed in the aftermath of the military coup between February 1, 2021 and May 10, 2022. Among the 5,646, at least 1,831 people died as a result of shootings in connection with anti-coup protests and subsequent arrests. Another 3,107 were killed because they were suspected of being military informants, according to a statement issued during a State Administration Council (SAC) press conference as well as comments made by the chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). . Some 690 people were killed as a result of the ensuing armed conflicts, and 18 others were said to have died because of violence associated with blood alliance groups. 

May 3 marked World Press Freedom Day. Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the State Administration Council (SAC) has gone to great lengths to crack down on independent news organizations by raiding editorial offices, arresting or shooting journalists as they attempt to report on protests across the country, conducting violent raids on journalists’ homes, and making arbitrary arrests.

Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, through to April 25, 2022, battles and skirmishes across the country have resulted in a total of 810,889 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). There were already over 497,200 IDPs prior to the coup; the total number of people displaced from their homes in Myanmar has now grown to more than 1,308,089. Additionally, there are over 1,002,000 refugees living in camps at Myanmar’s borders with Bangladesh, India and Thailand. 

Trade with China accounted for the largest volume of Myanmar’s cross-border trade overall during the 2021-22 mini-budget period. However, trade with Thailand increased during this period by more than US$640 million compared to the same financial period last year. This represents a rise from 34 percent of overall trade to more than 75 percent. 

According to records from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the State Administration Council (SAC) arrested a total of 13,293 people nationwide on suspicion of treasonous, anti-coup activities; these arrests were made between February 1, 2021 and April 18, 2022. March and April 2021 saw the highest number of arrests by the SAC – 2022 continues to see further arrests on the same anti-military basis. These figures are taken from the currently available data; the true figures may be higher.

According to records provided by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), and data compiled by ISP-Myanmar, a total of at least 2,345 civilians were killed nationwide between February 1, 2021, and April 6, 2022. The death toll includes those killed in violent crackdowns by the State Administration Council’s (SAC’s) forces; those killed during interrogation by the SAC, as well as those arrested and those who were shot and killed amidst armed conflicts. These figures are based on the available data; the true civilian death toll may be higher.

Myanmar received more than US$530 million in direct foreign investment between October 2021 and February 2022, designated by the State Administration Council (SAC) as a mini-budget period. ASEAN countries accounted for the highest investment collectively, with more than US$285 million. Singapore topped the list of individual country investors with US$277 million, followed by China with US$118 million. Other investors in Asia included Thailand (US$7 million), Japan (US$1 million), and Malaysia (US$300,000). This mini-budget period also saw the return of European investors for the first time since the military coup in February 2021, including US$4 million from the Netherlands and more than US$400,000 from France.

At least 13,001 people were arrested across the country between February 1, 2021, and March 28, 2022. Those arrested included members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Union Election Commission, political activists, and anti-coup protesters. Approximately 3,040 have been released so far; 891 have been sentenced, but at least 9,070 are still being held without charge. A statement from the State Administration Council (SAC) claimed that over 11,000 people have been arrested, and stand accused of committing acts of violence. This figure was disclosed at a press conference on January 17, 2022, but no further figures have been disclosed at subsequent press conferences.