Spring Revolution – Mizzima Daily Notes

1 November 2026

The Arakan Army (AA) announced that it had shot down a junta paramotor carrying ammunition and supplies to the Nat Yay Kan strategic hilltop base in Rakhine State, and seized some of the ammunition and supplies aboard the aircraft. Meanwhile, a public campaign was held in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region, calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Internationally, efforts by some major powers to re-engage with Myanmar’s military-backed government, escalating military tensions in the Middle East, and shifts in global political and economic affairs continued to unfold.

Revolution: Politics and Military Affairs

The Arakan Army (AA) announced that its forces had shot down a junta paramotor carrying ammunition and supplies to the Nat Yay Kan strategic hilltop base in Rakhine State at around 8 am on 30 October. Some of the ammunition and supplies aboard the aircraft were also seized, according to the AA.

In Myaung Township, Sagaing Region, a sticker campaign calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, was held at Myaung Town Market, according to a statement issued by the Myaung Township People’s Strike Steering Committee on 30 October.

Myanmar Affairs and International Relations

Japan is pushing for Myanmar to be removed from the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to make it easier to do business in the country, Reuters reported on 30 October. The move is the latest sign that some major powers are seeking to re-engage with Myanmar’s military-backed government, which has faced international isolation, the report said.

Russia continues to provide the Myanmar military junta with weapons, technology and political support. A study commissioned by the Hanns Seidel Foundation found close ties between Russia and the Myanmar junta, describing the partnership as a gap in Europe’s sanctions policy that has yet to receive sufficient attention.

International Politics and Military Affairs

G20 foreign ministers began meeting in the United States amid deepening divisions among member countries over the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Russia showed no signs of softening its position on Ukraine, according to reports.

Ukrainian drone attacks triggered fires at industrial sites in Russia’s southern Samara region, killing two people as firefighting and emergency response operations were under way, regional authorities said on Friday. Separately, a 19-year-old man was killed in an airstrike in Russia’s western Bryansk region.

Campaigning has intensified ahead of the US midterm elections scheduled for 3 November. On Friday, President Donald Trump said Republicans still had a chance of success and decided to revive two campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa that had previously been cancelled.

Economy and Regional Developments

China’s withdrawal from a proposed logistics hub project at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka represents another setback for Beijing’s economic ambitions in the country. Announced in 2023 as a major economic development project, the initiative was intended to strengthen Colombo’s position as a regional logistics hub.

International Social Affairs and the Environment

Attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest monthly level in October since the war between Iran and the United States began. More than 30 incidents have been recorded, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Nearly 200 countries reached agreements on Friday at a United Nations biodiversity summit aimed at getting environmental targets back on track. However, there was also disappointment over missed opportunities to curb human activities contributing to environmental destruction.

Authorities in Madagascar said they had uncovered links between online scam networks operating in the country and a criminal group that had run similar operations in Cambodia. The networks allegedly exploited African nationals believed to have been trafficked into the country to carry out online scams, Madagascar authorities told AFP.

International Social Movements and Freedom of Expression

Protests coinciding with the Halloween period are set to continue across France on Saturday for a third consecutive week. Shops across the country have put precautionary measures in place, while authorities are seeking to prevent a repeat of the street violence witnessed two weeks ago.

A footballer’s joking remarks about an internet meme have become an example of China’s ability to exert influence over freedom of expression beyond its own borders.

Daily Overview

On 31 October, the AA’s military operation in Rakhine State and a public campaign calling for the release of political prisoners stood out among developments inside Myanmar. At the international level, signs that some countries may be shifting their approach towards the Myanmar military junta, alongside Russia’s military and political support for the regime, remain important developments to watch for their potential impact on Myanmar. Meanwhile, military tensions involving Ukraine and the Middle East, attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and wider global economic shifts continued to add to international uncertainty.