Spring Revolution: Mizzima Daily Notes

(July 13, 2026) Mizzima. Looking at the overall situation in Myanmar in the latter half of the second week of July, the military junta's airstrikes, military tensions in border areas, and natural disasters due to floods are simultaneously continuing to put pressure on the safety and socio-economic conditions of the people. Military clashes are ongoing in Sagaing, Kachin, and Karen regions, while floods are causing transportation and living difficulties in Rakhine, Kachin, and Karen states. On the other hand, ASEAN, India, and neighboring countries are observed to be continuing their diplomatic activities regarding the Myanmar issue.,According to a statement released by the Myanmar Internet Project (MIP), the military junta conducted 520 airstrikes between April and June 2026, resulting in the deaths of 314 civilians. Over 95 percent of the deceased were from areas where internet and communication access is cut off, and included 58 women, 41 children, and 15 elderly individuals. Furthermore, according to a statement by the Kachin Human Rights Watch (KHRW), over 130 civilians, including seven children, were killed due to the military junta's airstrikes, missile attacks, and heavy artillery fire within Kachin State.,In the Karen State, along the Thai-Myanmar border in the areas of Phlu and Minlapa, fierce fighting has been ongoing for nearly a week between the KNLA joint forces and the military junta's troops, with the military junta continuously carrying out airstrikes. In Kanigyi Township, Sagaing Region, a military column of about 500 troops advancing to control the Monywa-Yagyi-Kale road has resulted in a total of 12 individuals, including defectors and prisoners of war, according to reports. Alongside the military situation, natural disasters are also continuing to occur. In five townships in northern Rakhine State, after a record-breaking five-day flood, the water has receded, but residents are still facing the aftermath of the damage. Meanwhile, in the Fargant area of Kachin State and the Myawaddy area of Karen State, floods are continuing due to rising river levels.,The incident in Yangon city near the waterfront, where a cyclo driver in his 50s suddenly collapsed and died while riding his cyclo, reflects the socio-economic hardships currently faced by the people. Daily wage laborers state that they cannot afford to take time off even when they are sick, and their livelihoods are under increasing pressure due to their hand-to-mouth existence.,On the political front, during a meeting between the Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF) and CDM civil servants, nine points were presented, including the resolution of the social life difficulties faced by CDM employees. On the other hand, following an informal meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and the military junta's foreign minister in Bangkok, ASEAN stated that it would continue to implement its policy of "gradual engagement" with Myanmar and continue to implement the Five-Point Consensus. Developments related to Myanmar continue to occur in neighboring countries. In India's Mizoram state, it has been reported that over 4.14 billion rupees worth of narcotics were seized in six months, while in Thailand's northern Chiang Rai region, emergency warnings have been issued due to the possibility of severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall.,On the international stage, military tensions between the United States and Iran have resurfaced, with Iran announcing the further closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This situation has led to increased concerns about the global energy market and maritime trade. In China, Typhoon Barbary has caused heavy rainfall in the eastern coastal regions, testing the resilience of densely populated cities to natural disasters.,Regarding the South China Sea, Japan, the Philippines, the United States, and 11 other countries issued a joint statement declaring that China's maritime claims lack legal basis. This statement was issued to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2016 ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. In the cultural and artistic sector, as Martyrs' Day approaches, discussions are intensifying among the Myanmar public, recalling the historical legacy of General Aung San and the martyrs. Voices criticizing the psychological oppression of the dictatorial regime, which instills fear even in flowers and statues, are also becoming louder.,In summary, the current situation in Myanmar sees the military junta's airstrikes and military tensions in border areas continuing to affect civilians, while floods and socio-economic difficulties further burden the daily lives of the people. On the other hand, although diplomatic activities by ASEAN and the international community continue, Myanmar's crisis remains a complex issue intertwined with military, humanitarian, economic, and geopolitical factors.