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Joint Statement: SEANF Must Deny the Junta-controlled Myanmar Commission the 2027 Chairship to Protect Regional Credibility

August 7, 2026/in ND-Burma Members' Reports, Press Releases and Statements

[BANGKOK, 7 August 2026] We, the undersigned 146 Myanmar, regional, and international civil society organizations, express deep alarm and concern regarding reports that the junta-controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) has announced its intention to assume the Chairship of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) in 2027, following discussions during the second Technical Working Group Meeting of SEANF […]

Myanmar military escalates civilian killings, monitor warns, amid diplomatic push

July 28, 2026/in News

By Reuters July 27 (Reuters) – Myanmar’s military has sharply escalated attacks on civilians since a ‌new administration took office in the war-torn country, a conflict monitor said on Monday, even as regional governments ramp up diplomatic engagement. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) said the onslaught was a result of the tactics […]

Joint Statement: SEANF Must Deny the Junta-controlled Myanmar Commission the 2027 Chairship to Protect Regional Credibility

August 7, 2026/in ND-Burma Members' Reports, Press Releases and Statements

Myanmar military escalates civilian killings, monitor warns, amid diplomatic push

July 28, 2026/in News

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Joint Statement: SEANF Must Deny the Junta-controlled Myanmar Commission the 2027 Chairship to Protect Regional Credibility

August 7, 2026/in ND-Burma Members' Reports, Press Releases and Statements

[BANGKOK, 7 August 2026] We, the undersigned 146 Myanmar, regional, and international civil society organizations, express deep alarm and concern regarding reports that the junta-controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) has announced its intention to assume the Chairship of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) in 2027, following discussions during the second Technical Working Group Meeting of SEANF held in Malaysia from 21 to 23 July 2026.

We urge SEANF members to take a principled stand and prevent the MNHRC from assuming any leadership position within SEANF and to urgently review its continued membership in the Forum. Allowing the MNHRC to chair SEANF would not only seriously undermine the credibility, legitimacy, and integrity of a regional human rights mechanism established to advance human rights protection in Southeast Asia, but would embolden the MNHRC to further provide the criminal military junta with a shield from international accountability.

SEANF’s credibility must be grounded in international human rights standards

SEANF’s credibility as a regional network of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) depends on its commitment to the standards it seeks to promote. As a mechanism established to strengthen human rights protection in Southeast Asia, SEANF must ensure that its membership and leadership are consistent with the principles of independence, pluralism, and effectiveness enshrined in the UN Paris Principles.

Providing leadership roles to institutions that no longer meet these standards risks undermining confidence in SEANF among civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and communities affected by human rights violations.

MNHRC’s failure to comply with the Paris Principles

MNHRC’s continued membership and its boldness of seeking to assume the SEANF Chairship raise serious concerns regarding the Forum’s commitment to international minimum NHRI standards.

Following a review by the GANHRI Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA), MNHRC’s “B” status accreditation was removed in December 2024 due to its failure to comply with the UN Paris Principles. The SCA raised serious concerns regarding MNHRC’s independence, its failure to effectively fulfil its mandate following the military’s 2021 illegal coup attempt, inadequate engagement with civil society and the international human rights system, and concerns regarding its appointment process and being complicit in the military junta’s human rights violations and atrocity crimes.

Following the removal of its accreditation, MNHRC’s membership in GANHRI was formally removed in March 2025, and the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) subsequently removed MNHRC from its membership in May 2025.

These decisions clearly demonstrate that MNHRC no longer meets the standards expected of an independent and effective NHRI. Civil society organizations have consistently called upon SEANF to take similar action and remove MNHRC from its network in order to uphold the integrity of regional NHRI mechanisms and to avoid the risk of being complicit in the MNHRC’s protection of the perpetrators.

MNHRC has failed to protect human rights in Myanmar

Since the 2021 illegal military coup attempt, MNHRC has failed to act as an independent institution capable of protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable for widespread and systematic human rights violations committed by the Myanmar military.

Rather than independently investigating and addressing violations, MNHRC has failed to challenge the actions of the military junta or provide effective protection or access to justice to victims of serious violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances, massacres and airstrikes and ground attacks against civilians, including children.

Through its actions and omissions, MNHRC has contributed to efforts by the military junta to project an appearance of human rights oversight while failing to provide any accountability and protection for victims and survivors.

Increased public engagements cannot restore lost legitimacy

The undersigned organizations are further concerned that MNHRC has recently increased its public engagements and international outreach despite losing recognition within the international NHRI system.

Its reported engagements–including a meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on 17 July 2026 and with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation on 10 July–appear designed to increase its international visibility in the military junta’s post-sham-election rebrand in civilian disguise. However, public engagements cannot substitute for genuine independence, accountability, and compliance with the Paris Principles.

The Russian Commissioner for Human Rights has also faced serious scrutiny within the international NHRI community, including the removal of its accreditation following GANHRI-SCA findings concerning its compliance with the Paris Principles and its response to serious human rights violations in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

SEANF members must ensure none of their engagements are used to normalize MNHRC’s role within regional and international human rights spaces without addressing the fundamental concerns that led to the removal of its accreditation and memberships.

SEANF must act to protect its integrity

Allowing MNHRC to assume the SEANF Chairship would cause a public outcry and severely damage the credibility and public trust required for the Forum to function effectively. Civil society organizations and human rights defenders cannot meaningfully engage with a regional mechanism that provides leadership to an institution acting as a smokescreen for a criminal military junta. This junta has been found by the international NHRI community to be non-compliant with the Paris Principles and has failed to protect the human rights of Myanmar’s peoples.

We therefore call upon SEANF members to prevent MNHRC from assuming the Chairship of SEANF in 2027 and to take immediate steps towards its formal removal from the Forum. SEANF must ensure that its membership and leadership positions are held only by institutions that demonstrate independence, credibility, and genuine commitment to human rights protection, while taking concrete measures to safeguard its integrity as a credible and effective regional platform for human rights cooperation and advancement.

For more information, please contact:

The CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma/Myanmar); WG_NHRI@protonmail.com
Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions Secretariat, FORUM-ASIA; anni@forum-asia.org

Signed by 146 civil society organizations, including one organization that has chosen not to disclose its name:

5/ Lapantang Strike Column
5/ of Zaya State Strike Committee
A New Burma (ANB)
Action Committee for Democracy Development (ACDD)
Activate Rights, Bangladesh
Akila India Kattida Thozilalargal Madhya Sangam (AIKTMS) INDIA
All India Network of NGOs and Individuals Working with National and State Human Rights Institutions (AiNNI)
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-BURMA)
Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon – AJAY
Anti-junta Forces Coordination Committee – Mandalay (AFCC – Mandalay)
Anyar Pyit Taing Htaung Lay Myar Strike Committee
Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA)
Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD)
Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI)
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
Awaz Foundation Pakistan: Centre for Development Services (AwazCDS-Pakistan)
Ayadaw Strike Committee
Bali Legal Aid (YLBHI/LBH Bali)
Bhawan Nirman Karmakar Majdoor Union (BNKMU)
Budalin Strike Force
Building and wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
Building and Woodworkers International (BWI)
Burma Action Ireland
Burma Campaign UK (BCUK)
Burma Human Rights Network
Burma Monitor
Burma Solidarity Philippines (BSP)
Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)
Burmese Women’s Union (BWU)
Bytes For All, Pakistan
Campaign for Popular Democracy
CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
Centre for Human Rights and Development, Mongolia
Chindwin Riverside Villages Strike Committee
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Civil Information Network (CIN)
Civil Rights Defenders (CRD)
Civil Society and Human Rights Network, Afghanistan (CSHRN)
Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia
Construction Workers Union of NTUF (CWU-NTUF)
Creative Home (CH)
CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma/Myanmar)
Dagon University Student’s Union (DUSU)
Defence of Human Rights, Pakistan
Dignity, Kazakhstan
Educational Initiatives Prague
Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
Federation of Basic Education Worker Unions (FBEWU)
Federation of Free Worker (FFW)
Future Light Center (FLC)
General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
General Strike Coordination Body – GSCB
Generation Wave (GW)
Greater Equitable Measures (GEM), Malaysia
Hpakant Hmawlae Strike Force
Human Rights Alert, India
Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
Humanitarian Solidarity for the People of Myanmar (SKRM)
IMPARSIAL, the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor.
Independent Educators Union (INERU Indonesia)
Indonesian Airport Workers Union Federation (FSPBI/ITF)
Info Birmanie
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Joint Action for NHRI and OP in Japan, Japan
Judicial System Monitoring Program, Timor-Leste
Justice & Equality Focus (JEF)
Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT)
Kalay Township People’s Strike Steering Committee -KPSSC
Kani Township Strike Steering Committee
Kantbalu Township Strike Force
Karapatan Alliance Philippines
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Karen Women’s Organization (KWO)
Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG)
Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO)
Keng Tung Youth
Korean House of International Solidarity
Koreksi.org (independent media)
Kyae Lak Myay
Latpadaung Anti-coup Strike Force
Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
Law & Society Trust (LST), Sri Lanka
LGBT Alliance Myanmar
Loka Ahlinn
Madhya Pradesh Theka Shramik Mazdoor Congress (MPTSMC)
Magway People’s Revolution Committee
Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)
Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
Marsinah.Id (independent media)
MayMyo Strike Force
Metta Campaign Mandalay
Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Committee
Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA)
Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
Myanmar Women, Peace and Security (M-WPS)
Myaung People Strike Steering Committee
Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW)
Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
Odhikar, Bangladesh
Pale People’s Strike Steering Committee
People’s Empowerment Foundation,Thailand
Politics for Women Myanmar
Progressive Voice (PV)
Pusat KOMAS, Malaysia
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), Bangladesh
Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN)
RW Welfare society (RWWS)
Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU)
Shan MATA
Shwebo Strike Force
Spirit in Education Movement (SEM),Thailand
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Surabaya Legal Aid (YLBHI/LBH Surabaya)
Sushil Pyakurel, Nepal
Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Tamilnadu Congress Thozhilalar Union (TCTU), India
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
The Awakening, Pakistan
The Federation of people union (SERBUK) Indonesia
Union for Forestry Employees Sarawak (UFES)
University of Medicine Mandalay Student Union Revolutionary Front – UMMSURF
University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
US Campaign for Burma
Uttar pradesh Gramin Mazdoor Sangthan (Upgms)
Wetlet Strike Committee
White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar (WAC-M)
Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
Women’s Peace Network
Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC), Nepal
Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
Yinmarbin-Sarlingyi All Villages People Strike Leading Committee
Youth Resources Strike Committee – Chaung U Township

Myanmar military escalates civilian killings, monitor warns, amid diplomatic push

July 28, 2026/in News

By Reuters

Summary

Surge in violence linked to new military chief’s tactics — ACLED
Conflict monitor records more than a dozen mass killings in 2026, over 450 civilians dead
Former junta chief turned president Min Aung Hlaing to visit Thailand on August 6 to 7

July 27 (Reuters) – Myanmar’s military has sharply escalated attacks on civilians since a ‌new administration took office in the war-torn country, a conflict monitor said on Monday, even as regional governments ramp up diplomatic engagement.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) said the onslaught was a result of the tactics deployed by Myanmar’s new military chief who took over in late March as his predecessor prepared to become the country’s president.

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“Since the ruling junta in Myanmar reconfigured its military command structure in March, civilians have been subject to the military’s worsening repression and intensified aerial bombing campaign,” ACLED said.

“These adjustments ⁠included the regular deployment of specialised groups of two to five jet fighters executing sustained airstrikes against single targets.”

A Myanmar government spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters.

ACLED gathers data on Myanmar’s ongoing conflict from media reports and local partners, as well as reports by the UN, international monitoring groups and local human rights organisations.

Myanmar was plunged into turmoil after the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi‘s elected government in February 2021, sparking a civil war that has killed some 100,000 people and displaced millions.

Days before becoming president after an election that banned most opposition, Min Aung Hlaing appointed long-time loyalist and former spymaster Ye Win Oo as the military’s new commander-in-chief.

Under his command, the military has launched renewed offensives into several border regions, including a frontier area with critical rare earth deposits and other vital trade routes.

“Reprieve for civilians is unlikely as ‌the junta ⁠focuses its efforts on consolidating control following coup leader Min Aung Hlaing’s transition from commander of the military to civilian president in April,” ACLED said.

https://www.reuters.com/graphics/MYANMAR-CONFLICT/klvyobgorvg/media-embed.html

MASS KILLINGS

During the first half of 2026, ACLED said it recorded more than a dozen mass killings, resulting in over 450 civilian fatalities, around 40% of them in Myanmar’s central dry zone known as the Anyar region.

In May, hundreds of junta troops swept through parts of Myit Chay township, across the river ⁠from the ancient temples of Bagan, killing at least 40 people, three residents of the area told Reuters.

“About 700 soldiers came into the town, grabbed the belongings of the people here and then beat them and killed them,” said Ye Naung, 35.

Reuters could not independently verify accounts of the incident at Myit ⁠Chay, which is part of ACLED’s event database with at least five fatalities and was reported by local media.

“The military’s tactics in 2026 so far show merely shifting modalities of civilian repression rather than any reduction in its severity,” ACLED said.

The political transition in Myanmar has triggered ⁠a flurry of diplomacy, with Min Aung Hlaing travelling to key neighbours India and China.

There has also been tentative re-engagement with the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc, which barred Myanmar’s ruling generals from its summits after the coup.

Min Aung Hlaing will make an official visit to Thailand on August 6 to 7, as he pushes for further legitimacy.

(This story has been refiled to add Reuters to the dateline)

Reporting by Reuters staff; Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal and Kate Mayberry

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ND Burma

ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.

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MASS KILLINGS

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