ASEAN’s Myanmar trip postponed
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, who is the rotating ASEAN chair, along with the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, had planned to visit Myanmar on September 19 to discuss election matters with military leader Min Aung Hlaing, but the trip was postponed to early October. 1
However, Hasan did not disclose the reason for the date change. Pro-democracy forces have criticized that the junta’s election is only a sham election that does not represent the people’s will, and there have been warnings that the ASEAN foreign ministers’ Myanmar trip could be interpreted as recognizing the military junta.
The National Unity Government (NUG)’s Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Sasa also warned that if ASEAN truly wants peace in Myanmar, it should support a people-led process and not support the sham election initiated by the military.
AA and BGB trade accusations
Regarding statements by Deputy Director of the Ramu Sector of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) General Colonel Md. Mohiuddin Ahmed that some Bangladeshi nationals are buying drugs from the AA and bringing them into the country, AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha responded that this is a one-sided accusation. 2
U Khaing Thukha responded that all drug trafficking operations have ceased since the AA took control of the border. The military junta and Bangladesh border guards had interests in the drug trade since the time the junta controlled Buthidaung and Maungdaw borders, and the are now attacking the AA in various ways as they have lost their interests.
The AA spokesman also stated that the BGB is arming Muslims in refugee camps and backing their acts of terrorism for profit, which seriously threatens peace and stability in the border region and regional security. 3
The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) has also denied the AA’s allegations that they have ties with Rohingya armed groups. The BGB responded that they are suppressing the activities of both Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) within Bangladesh territory and have arrested some leaders including ARSA’s chief Ataullah Gajununi.
Furthermore, the BGB continued to state that according to Bangladesh intelligence findings, the Rohingya armed organizations operating in Rakhine State are not based on the Bangladesh side but are located on the Myanmar side.
UNHCR chief’s 3-day Myanmar visit
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, after a three-day visit to Myanmar where he witnessed the situation of millions of internally displaced persons, called on the international community to increase funding and assistance for Myanmar’s overlooked crisis, including the issue of refugee repatriation. 4
He stated on 11 September that millions of people inside Myanmar are facing daily threats to their lives due to aerial bombardments, destruction of property, forced conscription, and other factors so that it is necessary to find ways to enable them to return home safely and with dignity.
In the military junta’s statement, it was mentioned that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees met with Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Foreign Minister U Than Swe, Union Minister for Immigration and Population Dr. Myint Kyaing, and Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Soe Win.
The military junta stated that they discussed the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNDP-UNHCR for the reception of returnees from Arakan State, as well as the coordination and cooperation between the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh to successfully implement this process.
Reject the military junta’s planned election
On 15 September, International Democracy Day, international trade unions and journalists collectively denounced and condemned the election that the military junta plans to hold as an illegitimate election.
They pointed out that since the military junta seized power in 2021, it has oppressed and arrested journalists, political activists, and many civilians, and due to its brutal attacks, thousands have died and millions have been displaced. Given this, they asserted that the election to be held by the military council cannot be free and fair. 5
Furthermore, they pointed out that the military council’s renaming itself as the State Security and Peace Commission after four and a half years since the coup is merely a tactic designed to evade accountability for the crimes it has committed in the eyes of the international community.
The statement also called on international governments to reject the military council’s election and to continue imposing sanctions on the military council.
1. ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Myanmar Trip Postponed, People’s Spring, 18 Sep 2025
2. AA Responds to Bangladesh Allegations of Involvement in Drug Trafficking, Burma VJ, 17 Sep 2025
3. AA Says Bangladesh Border Guard is Supporting and Encouraging Muslim Refugees, Burma VJ, 18 Sep 2025
4. UNHCR chief urges solutions to repatriate refugees after Myanmar visit, DVB, 16 Sep 2025
5. nternational Labor Unions Jointly Condemn Junta Election, People’s Spring, 15 Sep 2025