Situation Update: Documenting the Junta’s Arbitrary Arrest and Killing of Civilians February 11, 2025
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has been providing key stakeholders with information on Burma’s political affairs since 2000. Over the years, AAPP’s documentation has become a trusted source of data on political prisoners involved in significant uprisings such as the 2003 Depayin uprising, the 2007 Saffron Revolution, and the 2015 student movement. UN investigations rely on AAPP as a vital source of information. Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, AAPP has been actively monitoring and documenting arrests and detentions perpetrated by the junta. What’s more, it has expanded its documentation efforts to include the deaths of pro-democracy activists and civilians killed from the military’s brutal violence, starting with the violent crackdowns on peaceful protests.
As of February 10, 2025, a total of (28539) individuals have been arrested for political reasons since the coup began on February 1, 2021, with (21803) still being held in prisons, interrogation centers, police stations, and detention facilities. Additionally, (6268) people have been killed by the junta. These figures are based on the information available to AAPP, and the actual numbers on the ground may be higher than reported.
In clear violation of international law, crimes against humanity continue to occur at an alarming rate in Burma. However, access to accurate information on these violations is severely limited due to the intensifying armed conflict, the junta’s forced military conscription, severe electricity shortages limiting power to just a few hours per day, internet blackouts in many townships, social media bans, and the junta’s control over telecommunications operators. This is compounded by the junta’s active suppression of information. In many cases, the junta do not even share accurate information with detainees themselves – as well as their families – about the location of detainees, additional charges imposed on them during detention, and sentencing procedures.
Therefore, the most significant challenge AAPP faces in documenting these human rights violations, is verifying the information that it receives. To ensure its accuracy and rigor, our methodology requires that each individual be identified and recorded by name. But the restriction on information creates delays in promptly recording all event details in AAPP’s database.
In many cases, it is also difficult to obtain information on the violent crackdowns of peaceful protests and the mass arrests of local residents during the junta forces’ military offensives in villages. AAPP is still working separately to verify that over (3,000) individuals listed in its database are deceased, as we continue to await confirmation from our sources.
Between the coup’s inception and January 4, 2025, the military regime has carried out (16) mass prison releases, during which, approximately (6,500) political prisoners, in aggregate data, are estimated to have been freed. However, AAPP has only been able to verify the names and details of around (3,200) of those released, who are consequently recorded in AAPP’s list of released political prisoners. Efforts are still underway to verify the remaining released political prisoners.
Despite its challenges, AAPP remains committed to collecting and verifying information on political prisoners, including their identities, personal details, conditions, and the events surrounding their detention. It does this in accordance with its rigorous documentation process, updating the database with verified information before publishing the records. AAPP continues to research and utilize advanced technologies to enhance the accuracy and reliability of its evidence.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
Download LInk: AAPP Documentation on Junta’s arrest and kill_English (11-Feb-2025)
