Myanmar Witness

Highlights

May 16

Conflicting claims: An analysis of the Tabayin school airstrike

Reports described how dozens - mainly children - had been killed in an airstrike that hit a school in Sagaing’s Tabayin township, claims that were dismissed as 'fake news' by SAC-aligned sources. Myanmar Witness pieced together UGC and satellite imagery to show what really happened.

Airstrike

May 28

Necessary and proportionate? Potential ‘unprovoked’ airstrikes in January 2025

This report investigates claims of Myanmar military airstrikes on villages to assess whether they were isolated incidents or part of a broader pattern. While the State Administration Council (SAC) maintains these strikes are necessary, targeted responses to threats, Myanmar Witness found that in many cases, strikes destroyed or severely damaged villages and infrastructure in areas where civilians, including children, were reportedly present. This contradicts the SAC’s assertion that only insurgents are targeted and suggests that even so-called isolated strikes may reflect a broader, more indiscriminate use of force.

MAF Airstrike

Apr 28

Airstrikes continued to hit earthquake-stricken Myanmar despite SAC ceasefire

One month on from the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, open source analysis conducted by Myanmar Witness reveals how the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) continued to conduct airstrikes in the earthquake’s aftermath, despite the State Administration Council (SAC) calling a temporary ceasefire and national mourning period.

Airstrike

Mar 31

How four years of war reduced Myanmar cities and towns to rubble

Satellite imagery shows how fire, shelling and airstrikes have wrecked towns, cities and villages in resistance strongholds throughout the country.

Latest Reports

Airstrike

May 28

Necessary and proportionate? Potential ‘unprovoked’ airstrikes in January 2025

This report investigates claims of Myanmar military airstrikes on villages to assess whether they were isolated incidents or part of a broader pattern. While the State Administration Council (SAC) maintains these strikes are necessary, targeted responses to threats, Myanmar Witness found that in many cases, strikes destroyed or severely damaged villages and infrastructure in areas where civilians, including children, were reportedly present. This contradicts the SAC’s assertion that only insurgents are targeted and suggests that even so-called isolated strikes may reflect a broader, more indiscriminate use of force.

Education Airstrike

May 16

Conflicting claims: An analysis of the Tabayin school airstrike

Reports described how dozens - mainly children - had been killed in an airstrike that hit a school in Sagaing’s Tabayin township, claims that were dismissed as 'fake news' by SAC-aligned sources. Myanmar Witness pieced together UGC and satellite imagery to show what really happened.

Environment

May 12

Unearthing the hidden costs: Myanmar's rare earth mining boom

Using open source intelligence (OSINT) techniques, which include satellite imagery analysis, social media monitoring and cross-verification, Myanmar Witness highlights the significant expansion of rare earth mining operations in Myanmar between 2018 and 2024.

Information environment

Jan 21

Sentiment analysis of the online space for two distinct operations in Myanmar

An analysis of user sentiments in Burmese on TikTok and YouTube regarding two key military operations: Operation 1027, led by the Three Brotherhood Alliance in Shan State from October 2023, and the Myanmar military-led Yan Naing Min Operation, starting in early September in 2024. This work aims to understand how users express their opinions and emotions about these events and to reveal any patterns in the engagement between pro-military and anti-State Administration Council (SAC) actors across operations.

Maps

Find out More

Myanmar Witness has created a number of maps in order to help researchers, journalists and CSOs explore evidence related to human rights incidents in Myanmar and see patterns and trends that have emerged since the coup.