On August 15, the SPDC increased fuel prices by up to 500% overnight, affecting the cost of essential commodities and transport. Burmese people from all walks of life participated in nationwide protests, showing their anger and courage in the face of the intolerable burden of the SPDC’s long-term economic mismanagement.

The SPDC reacted by attacking and arresting over 150 peaceful demonstrators and key activists. The SPDC’s inflexibility is likely to prolong the economic crisis, worsening domestic instability and having negative implications in neighboring countries.

The international community condemned the arrests of activists and protesters calling for their immediate release, and for the junta to engage in genuine dialogue. But more pressure is needed to resolve the root causes of Burma’s protracted political and economic crisis.

We call on India, China and ASEAN to revive and step up their advocacy to ensure that the crisis is eased through dialogue, and to push further for a sustainable solution that involves all key stakeholders in Burma. We call on the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling upon the SPDC to actively cooperate with the UN in delivering on promises for genuine political and economic reform.