25th-31st January, 2022

 A junta’s spokesperson told Nikkei Asia on 26 January that the military has no plan to dissolve Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party despite its ongoing targeted violence against the party’s members. The next day, the junta released U Han Tha Myint, a secretary of the NLD Central Executive Committee, after 11 months in prison, according to Myanmar Now.

The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) held its first People’s assembly from 27 to 29 January, approving several important issues including the federal charter part (1) and (2) and structure of the council, the NUCC said in a statement. The NUCC is currently composed of 33 groups, including ethnic armed organisations.

On 26 January, the KIO/KIA issued a statement regarding the current political crisis and armed conflict. The statement said that if the current crisis is not resolved in time, Myanmar could be on the verge of complete annihilation, and China has called armed groups, including the KIO, based along the border for a ceasefire during Chinese New Year holidays and the Winter Olympics.

The People's Spring reported that several weapons were confiscated on 29 January after the coalition force of local defence forces raided a police station in Myaing Township, Magway Region. Similarly, on 22 January, the LDF/PDFs raided two police stations in Phaungpyin Township, Sagaing Region, and arrested eight policemen and confiscated several weapons. According to Mizzima, more than 10 Chin resistant fighters have been killed in landmine accidents in Chin State, where fighting has intensified since the coup.

In January, more than 5,000 AA troops and locals had been vaccinated in five townships in Rakhine State under the auspices of the junta’s Health Department, a Arakan Army spokesperson told Western News. An Australia-based energy giant Woodside Energy that has invested in nine offshore blocks in Myanmar for more than eight years, announced on 27 January that it would be leaving Myanmar.