YANGON, Myanmar — Female political prisoners in Myanmar are being subjected to invasive body searches and 24-hour surveillance that amount to sexual harassment and a grave violation of human dignity, according to a new report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). The report, titled "Oppressed Women Behind Barbed Wire," reveals that women are frequently forced to strip naked in public view during...

SHWEBO, Myanmar — Authorities at Shwebo Prison in central Myanmar are running a systematic extortion racket, charging political prisoners and their families hundreds of dollars for basic visitation rights, according to a leading rights group. The Women’s Organization for Political Prisoners (WOPP) reported on Monday that families are being forced to pay bribes and provide expensive gifts to officials in exchange for "special visits"...

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s sham government is ramping up its aerial bombardment of civilian areas despite a severe nationwide fuel shortage that has grounded domestic commercial flights and paralyzed private transport. Data from the Nyan Lin Thit Research Group reveals a disturbing paradox: as the country’s energy crisis deepens, the military’s use of airpower against its own people is actually increasing. Between March 6...

By Chun Nrein / MPA In a battered, soot-stained pot, broken rice grains are boiled into a soft, sticky mash. From an ancient plate where the ceramic glaze peels away in flakes, 80-year-old Pwa Naw Phaw Na struggles to eat her meager meal. A watery bowl of traditional Karen Talapaw soup and a single boiled danyin fruit (jengkol bean) constitute her entire daily nutrition....

MANDALAY, Myanmar — Authorities in Mandalay are making extensive preparations to host a grand Thingyan Water Festival this April, in what critics describe as a desperate attempt by the sham government to project an image of normalcy despite the ongoing national crisis. After a somber year in 2025—marked by devastating earthquakes that silenced the city's traditional celebrations—the Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) has announced...