Naypyidaw, Myanmar – The National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has announced the revocation of the order that transferred state power to the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. This decision, issued as Order No. 1/2025 and dated July 31, 2025, comes as the Commander-in-Chief submitted a report confirming the completion of the duties assigned to him under the declared state of emergency.

The following is an unofficial English translation of the National Defence and Security Council's Order No. 1/2025."

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar

National Defence and Security Council

Order No. 1 /2025

7th Wakhong Waxing Day, 1387 ME

(July 31, 2025)

Revocation of the Order Transferring State Power

Regarding the declaration of a state of emergency and the transfer of state power to the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services in accordance with Sections 417 and 418 of the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the National Defence and Security Council has received and accepted the report from the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services stating that he has completed the duties assigned to him. Therefore, the National Defence and Security Council hereby revokes Order No. 1/2021, dated February 1, 2021, of the Office of the President, which transferred state power to the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.

Signed

Min Aung Hlaing

Senior General

Acting President (Duty)

NAY PYI TAW, 30 July 2025 – Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) and Prime Minister, stated that Myanmar has moved past the first page of its journey and is now at the beginning of the second page. He made these remarks to SAC members and government officials.

The Senior General’s comments came during a commendation ceremony for the SAC, held today, July 30, at the Ice Mountain Hall, Zeyarthiri Beikman, in Nay Pyi Taw.

"I express my gratitude to all colleagues present for their collective efforts in overcoming various challenges and bringing us to the current situation over the past four and a half years," the Senior General said. "I also urge everyone to continue working together to ensure success in the journey ahead," he added.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing used a metaphor, saying, "The nation’s journey ahead is still long, and if we can write beautifully and achieve success at the beginning of this second page, I believe our efforts in facing countless challenges will be even more worthwhile."

He elaborated on Myanmar's past political history, the military’s reasons for assuming state duties, the joint efforts to overcome difficulties and serve the nation, and the necessary steps to successfully hold the general election.

"Despite difficulties and crises, we have managed to return to the current situation, and by learning from these experiences, we have laid a good foundation for the next government," the Senior General stated.

Reports indicate that a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) is scheduled for July 31. During this meeting, the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services is expected to submit a report confirming the completion of duties assigned under Section 426 of the Constitution.

The commendation ceremony for the State Administration Council, attended by various levels of government officials, took place one day prior to the upcoming NDSC meeting.

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YANGON, July 29, 2025 – Myanmar's State Administration Council (SAC) today enacted a new law that mandates the death penalty for anyone causing a fatality while obstructing, hindering, or destroying the election process.

The law, officially titled "Law on Protecting Multi-Party Democratic General Elections from Obstruction, Hindrance, and Destruction," is designated as SAC Law No. 48/2025.

Section 27 of the law explicitly states: "If any offense under this Law results in the death of an individual, all participants in the offense shall be sentenced to death."

The law prohibits any individual from causing the failure of the multi-party democratic general election processes, or any part thereof, by speaking, saying, organizing, inciting, protesting, or distributing written materials through any means.

Furthermore, the law forbids direct or indirect actions such as threatening, obstructing, or using undue influence, or voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt, with the intent to:

▪️Prevent a voter from casting their ballot.

▪️Prevent a presiding officer, polling station member, or any person assigned by the commission or sub-commission from performing their duties.

▪️Prevent any election commission or sub-commission member from performing their duties.

▪️Prevent a parliamentary (Hluttaw) candidate from campaigning in accordance with the law.

The law also prohibits anyone from willfully destroying, damaging, or causing loss to ballot papers, ballot boxes, voting machines, equipment, and accessories by any means.

Additionally, it bans the destruction, damage, or causing of loss to election commission offices, sub-commission offices, polling stations, buildings used as polling stations, or buildings where ballot papers, ballot boxes, voting machines, equipment, and accessories are stored, by any means.

The law further stipulates that anyone who attempts to commit any offense under this law, conspires to commit it, or aids and abets in its commission shall be liable to the same penalty prescribed for the original offense.

Under this law, penalties range from a minimum of three years imprisonment to a maximum of the death penalty, depending on the offense committed.

Multi-party democratic general elections are planned to be held in Myanmar between December of this year and January 2026. Some organizations and individuals have openly stated their intent to disrupt the elections.

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NAYPYITAW, Myanmar – July 25, 2025 – Timor-Leste is actively engaging with Myanmar's State Administration Council (SAC) government in a diplomatic effort to gain its support for full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

On July 24, 2025, Mr. Olandino Ruide Andrade, Chargé d'affaires of the Timor-Leste Embassy in Yangon, visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Naypyitaw. During his visit, he met with Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ko Ko Kyaw to discuss Timor-Leste's aspiration to become an ASEAN member.

According to a statement released by the SAC, Mr. Andrade conveyed Timor-Leste's desire to secure the encouragement and support of all ASEAN member states for its accession. He reportedly assured the Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister that Timor-Leste is committed to upholding all provisions of the ASEAN Charter.

Mr. Andrade also expressed Timor-Leste's wish to establish good relations with all ASEAN member countries, including Myanmar. He reiterated Timor-Leste's eagerness to strengthen friendly ties between the two nations and extended an invitation for Myanmar to open an embassy in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste.

In response, Myanmar's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs emphasized that Timor-Leste's pursuit of ASEAN membership must align with the ASEAN Charter. He also stressed the importance of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.

The Deputy Minister stated that Myanmar was pleased to learn of Timor-Leste's desire to enhance bilateral relations. He also acknowledged Timor-Leste's Foreign Minister's reported interest in visiting Myanmar. U Ko Ko Kyaw affirmed that Myanmar actively participates in ASEAN community-building initiatives and the leadership of the ASEAN Chair, in line with its foreign policy.

The SAC statement further noted that Deputy Minister U Ko Ko Kyaw highlighted a recent positive discussion between the Myanmar delegation and Timor-Leste's Foreign Minister during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related gatherings, where both sides explored ways to improve bilateral relations.

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar – July 25, 2025 – Myanmar military forces (The Tatmadaw) has successfully regained control and reopened the Kyondoe-Kawkareik Union Highway, which had been blocked by combined forces of the Karen National Union (KNU), Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), and People's Defense Forces (PDF).

Since early April 2024, these combined groups had launched significant offensives aiming to fully capture Kawkareik town and local military headquarters. They advanced on two fronts: from the north through Kaung-hmu, Yankut, and Kyaung Shar Kon villages along the old Kawkareik- Thingannyinaung road, and from the south via Lan Pha-Asun-Tamile Kon. The town also endured heavy artillery shelling from distant positions, causing substantial damage to government buildings and residential areas. Many local residents were forced to flee to safer locations.

To reopen these routes and enable the normal flow of vehicle traffic, Tatmadaw columns commenced operations on April 13, 2025. Over a three-month operational period between Kyondoe and Kawkareik, seven major battles and 85 skirmishes occurred with the "terrorist insurgents." During these engagements, the Tatmadaw recovered 17 bodies, 30 assorted weapons, and related equipment from the enemy, with some enemy leaders sustaining severe injuries. While some Tatmadaw personnel were also injured or killed, the Kyondoe-Kawkareik road was successfully reopened on July 24.

Along the highway, efforts are underway to ensure safe and normal passage for local residents, travelers, and cargo and passenger vehicles. Reconstruction and mine-clearing operations are being conducted on roads and bridges destroyed by the "terrorist insurgents." Plans are also in motion to swiftly clear remaining sections of the Asia Highway to fully reopen the route from Myawaddy. Concurrently, the State Administration Council (SAC) Information Team announced that second-phase rehabilitation efforts for Kyondoe and Kawkareik towns, along with law enforcement, stability, and territorial control operations in surrounding villages, will continue.

Kawkareik, located in Kawkareik District, Karen State, is a strategically important economic hub situated on the Hpa-An-Myawaddy highway. It is approximately 41 miles from Myawaddy, a border town with Thailand, and lies on the key Asia Highway crucial for trade. Kawkareik serves as a major intersection, providing good road connections to Myawaddy, Hpa-An, Mawlamyine, and Kyainseikgyi.

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July 23, 2025, Mandalay - The Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw) has announced that it has fully recaptured and brought under control Thabeikkyin Town in the Thabeikkyin District of Mandalay Region today, July 23. This information was released by the State Administration Council (SAC) Information Team.

According to the statement, Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw) columns initiated a counter-terrorism operation within Thabeikkyin Township, which was previously controlled by terrorist insurgents. They began clearing the area around the battalion headquarters and subsequently gained ground through successive counter-attacks.

As a result of this operation, the Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw) successfully recaptured 6 Mile Village on June 30, 2025, followed by 5 Mile Village on July 5, and 4 Mile Village along with a nearby tower hill on July 17. Today, July 23, the Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw) has completely regained control of Thabeikkyin Town.

Thabeikkyin, a strategically important town, had been under attack by terrorist organizations, specifically the TNLA and PDF-affiliated groups, since August 18, 2024. These groups, advancing from Mohnyin and Mogok townships, launched large-scale assaults on Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw) outposts, battalions, and towns/villages within Thabeikkyin Township.

During the 11-month operation, 17 major battles and 45 skirmishes occurred with the terrorist insurgents. The Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw) reportedly recovered 51 bodies of enemy combatants and seized 112 assorted weapons along with related equipment.

Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw) columns have now begun mine-clearing operations within Thabeikkyin Town to ensure the safe return of local residents who were temporarily displaced. Authorities are urging displaced residents who wish to return to their homes and resume their livelihoods to report systematically to the relevant security teams.

Furthermore, the respective regional government is working with departmental staff to quickly resume government administrative functions, schools, and hospitals.

Thabeikkyin Town is located on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River and serves as a port town. It borders cities in Kachin State, Sagaing Region, and northern Shan State.

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