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FULCRUM •

New Battlefront Emerging in Western Myanmar

The Arakan Army (AA) has gained significant ground against State Administration Council (SAC) troops in western Myanmar. The AA’s gains compound SAC losses in other parts of the country since Operation 1027 in October.

A new battlefront has opened up in western Myanmar. Just weeks after the Operation 1027 offensive against junta forces in late October, the Arakan Army (AA) has chalked up a string of territorial gains against State Administration Council (SAC) forces in Rakhine State. The gains
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute •

Webinar on “Operation 1027 and Its Broader Implications for Myanmar”

In this webinar, three experts discussed the unfolding effects of Operation 1027, a major offensive launched by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BHA), which comprises the Myanmar National Democratic Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA), and constituting one of the most significant challenges confronting the State Administration Council (SAC) regime in Myanmar since the 2021 coup.

Tuesday, 28 November 2023 – The Myanmar Studies Programme at ISEAS
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute •

Operation 1027 and Its Broader Implications for Myanmar

On 27 October, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and its allies launched a surprise offensive against the State Administration Council (SAC) military regime in Myanmar. The speed and scale of Operation 1027 has resulted in significant losses for the Myanmar army. Operation 1027 alliance troops have taken control of army bases, and towns along key trade routes with China. Resistance forces across Myanmar, from Kayah and Kayin in the South to Rakhine in the West, have also launched.
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute •

2023/72 “Responses to Humanitarian Needs in Western Myanmar after Cyclone Mocha” by Kyaw Hsan Hlaing

• Category 5-level Cyclone Mocha made landfall on 14 May 2023 in western Myanmar, killing more than 100 lives, causing significant damage and loss in many townships across Rakhine State, and leaving approximately 1.5 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
• The State Administration Council (SAC) military regime restricted United Nations agencies in Myanmar and other aid organisations access to the cyclone-affected communities in Rakhine State. The United League of Arakan (ULA), the
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute •

Webinar on “Myanmar’s Humanitarian Challenges in 2023”

Myanmar continues to face daunting humanitarian challenges in 2023. The military coup in 2021 compounded humanitarian needs which arose prior to and during the pandemic. Cyclone Mocha in May 2023 added to mounting humanitarian needs. In this webinar, four speakers with policy and/or research experience shared their assessments of Myanmar’s humanitarian challenges and responses in 2023.

Tuesday, 20 June 2023 – The ISEAS Myanmar Studies Programme invited former Ambassador Robert Chua, Dr Alistair
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute •

2023/35 "Myanmar’s “Sham” Election Threatens the 2025 Goals of the Arakan Rebels" by Kyaw Hsan Hlaing

• After fighting the Myanmar military fiercely for two years, the Arakan Army had, by the end of 2020, established a parallel administration and military bases in Rakhine State. It seemed that “Arakan Dream 2020” was thus accomplished.
• While the relationship between the Rakhine political parties and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) is not clear, the ULA/AA leadership seems to have much closer interactions with the Arakan National Party (ANP) than with the Arakan League of Democracy and Arakan Front Party.
FULCRUM •

How Would Rakhine Figure in Myanmar’s “Sham” Elections?

The most critical player in Rakhine for the security situation and upcoming elections is the Arakan Army, not the local politicians.

At the two-year mark of the 1 February 2021 coup in Myanmar, the State Administration Council (SAC) regime extended its term for another six months and sought support for elections now planned for August 2023. The SAC’s moves to push ahead with what are likely to be sham elections have stacked the odds in favor of its proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Pa
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute •

Webinar on "Myanmar Twenty-Two Months After The Coup"

In this webinar, four experts offered their thoughts on the challenges of Myanmar’s multidimensional crisis, and prevailing sentiments towards those challenges. One of the four experts, serving as discussant, also contributed her assessment of the rapidly changing political landscape within Myanmar, access to humanitarian aid and responses from the regional partners to the Myanmar crisis.

5 December 2022, Monday – The ISEAS Myanmar Studies Programme convened a webinar under Chatham House Rule i
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute •

2023/35 "Myanmar’s “Sham” Election Threatens the 2025 Goals of the Arakan Rebels" by Kyaw Hsan Hlaing

• After fighting the Myanmar military fiercely for two years, the Arakan Army had, by the end of 2020, established a parallel administration and military bases in Rakhine State. It seemed that “Arakan Dream 2020” was thus accomplished.
• While the relationship between the Rakhine political parties and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) is not clear, the ULA/AA leadership seems to have much closer interactions with the Arakan National Party (ANP) than with the Arakan League of Democracy and Arakan Front Party.