Regional Overview
Asia-Pacific
December 2023
Posted: 12 January 2024
Bangladesh: Violence between the AL and independent candidates increases prior to election
Prior to the 7 January elections in Bangladesh, violence between the Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had been on the rise. However, with the BNP boycotting elections, intra-party violence within the AL increased in the month before the election. Given the guarantee of an AL win, competition centered on who would secure party nominations. Candidates who were not selected for the official ticket then ran as independents, resulting in an increase in violence between the AL and independent candidates. ACLED records nearly 70 events between AL and independent candidates and supporters in December, leading to hundreds of injured individuals and two reported fatalities. As expected, the AL won the elections, which the US and UK deemed neither free nor fair,1Julhas Alam, ‘The US and UK say Bangladesh’s elections extending Hasina’s rule were not credible,’ Associated Press, 8 January 2024 and is set to begin a new term (for more, see ACLED’s recent report, The Violent Politics of Bangladesh’s 2024 Elections).
India: Civilians killed in army custody in Jammu and Kashmir
On 22 December, the Indian army detained eight people from the Gujjar community in Jammu and Kashmir and took them for questioning. Three of the detainees were later found dead, having been tortured while in custody in Bafliaz town.2Vijaita Singh, ‘Army detained a few youth for questioning, three of them died, says FIR,’ The Hindu, 25 December 2023 A video circulated on social media that showed them being tortured and killed by Indian forces. The detainees had been picked up in connection with a separatist attack the day before, in which five soldiers were killed and two others were left injured. Three military officers, including a brigadier, were dismissed shortly after the incident. Authorities deployed troops and shut down the internet in Poonch and Rajouri districts, where the attacks had occurred, to prevent unrest.3Sameer Yasir, ‘Civilian Deaths in Custody Fuel Anger and Questions in Kashmir,’ The New York Times, 24 December 2023 Human rights bodies and United Nations experts have long expressed concern about the human rights situation in Kashmir, particularly over violations committed during counter-terrorism operations.4United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘First-ever UN human rights report on Kashmir calls for international inquiry into multiple violations,’ 14 June 2018 State violence targeting civilians in Jammu and Kashmir more than doubled in 2023 compared to 2022, ACLED data shows. The human rights situation is believed to have worsened since 2019 when the Indian government unilaterally ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and statehood.5Amnesty International, ‘India: Increase in unlawful killings in Jammu & Kashmir highlights Government’s failure to protect its minorities,’ 10 June 2022 On 11 December 2023, the Indian Supreme Court upheld this decision, while also mandating that local elections be held within a year.6Aijaz Hussain, ‘India’s Supreme Court upholds government’s decision to remove disputed Kashmir’s special status,’ Associated Press, 11 December 2023
Myanmar: Intensified fighting in Rakhine state
In December, ACLED records a 54% increase in political violence in Rakhine state compared to the month prior, driven by intensified fighting between the military and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA). Fighting between the military and ULA/AA began in early November following the breakdown of a year-long ‘humanitarian’ ceasefire and the launch of Operation 1027 by the Brotherhood Alliance, of which the ULA/AA is a member. Fighting since then has spread across Rakhine townships, as well as in Paletwa township, situated near the India border in neighboring Chin state.7Hein Htoo Zan, ‘AA Vows to Oust Myanmar Junta From South Chin State This Week,’ The Irrawaddy, 3 January 2024 In December, fighting was intense in Mrauk-U town, a city with historical significance for the Rakhine people.8Maung Shwe Wah, ‘Junta conducts airstrikes at ancient city of Mrauk-U,’ Myanmar Now, 15 December 2023 The military has frequently resorted to airstrikes and shelling, causing civilian casualties.9Development Media Group, ‘Rakhine State Suffered the Most Human Rights Violations in Past Week,’ 20 December 2023 Military airstrikes across Mrauk-U and Buthidaung reportedly led to the deaths of 10 Rohingya civilians on 28 December.10RFA Burmese, ‘Junta raid kills 10 Rohingyas, injures 17 in Myanmar’s Rakhine state,’ 29 December 2023 Additionally, military arrests of civilians, often accused of having ties with the ULA/AA, have been reported across Rakhine state.11Radio Free Asia, ‘More than 400 civilians arrested in Rakhine,’ 15 December 2023 China facilitated peace talks between the military and the Brotherhood Alliance in Kunming city on 11 December, as Beijing reportedly wanted to uphold stability along the China-Myanmar border amid disruptions in cross-border trade.12Sebastian Strangio, ‘Myanmar Military, Resistance Alliance Participate in China-Brokered Talks,’ The Diplomat, 12 December 2023 While both sides reached an agreement for a 20-day ceasefire,13The Irrawaddy, ‘No Deal Reached at China-Backed Talks Between Myanmar Junta, Ethnic Armies,’ 26 December 2023 fighting persisted, with the Brotherhood Alliance reaffirming its commitment to overthrow the military regime.14Sebastian Strangio, ‘Myanmar Ethnic Alliance ‘Reaffirms’ Goal of Overthrowing Military Junta,’ The Diplomat, 14 December 2023 China brokered another three-day round of peace talks from 22 to 24 December, but no agreement was reached.15The Irrawaddy, ‘No Deal Reached at China-Backed Talks Between Myanmar Junta, Ethnic Armies,’ 26 December 2023
Papua New Guinea: Tribal violence in the Highlands increasingly deadly
Inter-communal tensions in Papua New Guinea grew increasingly violent in December, with fatalities rising by 59% compared with the previous month. The deadliest violence was recorded in the Highlands, where at least 47 people were reported dead in relation to tribal violence in Enga, Jiwaka, and the Eastern Highlands. In Enga, militiamen from the Kaekin, Palinu, Sikin, and 11 other tribes attacked the Sau Walep and Itiokon Nenein tribes in Wapenamanda at the end of the month, resulting in more than 30 reported deaths. The attack prompted members of the Sau Walep and Itiokon Nenein tribes to block off the Highlands Highway to demonstrate the Enga government’s failure to enforce a truce that the tribes agreed on in September.16Post Courier, ‘Fighting tribes agree to ceasefire,’ 18 September 2023 Enga is the site of regular outbreaks of violence between tribes.
In Jiwaka, 11 people from the Kupaka Onbe sub-clan, including women and children, were killed in a retaliatory attack by a rival tribe.17The National, ‘11 dead as feuding families clash,’ 12 December 2023 The attack stemmed from a conflict between two families over a piece of land, which has led to decades of fighting. It is believed that the attack was an act of retaliation after the Kupaka Onbe sub-clan killed a boy in November. Local authorities declared the area a ‘fighting zone,’ giving state authorities expanded powers to take control of the area. Customary land boundaries between tribes and clans are highly contested in Papua New Guinea, and land disputes are a major cause of inter-tribal violence. Another land dispute-fueled tribal fight led to six reported deaths in Eastern Highlands. The Yauna and Punano tribes clashed on 12 December in Kainantu, leading to the displacement of many people on both sides.18The National, ‘Six killed over land dispute,’ 18 December 2023 The clash followed a fight between the two groups in October that resulted in seven reported deaths and more than 80 wounded.
Philippines: Lethal fighting in Maguindanao del Sur
In the Philippines, an escalation of fighting between army troops and Islamic State (IS)-inspired militants led to a significant number of casualties in December, with militant-related violence and government operations reportedly leaving at least 48 people dead. The army dealt the IS-inspired militants a major blow on 1 December when 11 fighters from different factions of the Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) — including the reported head of DI — were killed in a military operation in Maguindanao del Sur.19SunStar Zamboanga, ‘Ameer of Dawlah Islamiyah-Philippines killed in clash,’ 3 December 2023 A few days later, on 3 December, four civilians were killed when the DI-Maute Group bombed a Catholic mass at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City. Philippine authorities believe the bombing was in retaliation for the earlier killing of the 11 DI militants.20Ferdinandh Cabrera, ‘At least 4 dead, 45 hurt in explosion during Mass in Marawi,’ Rappler, 3 December 2023; Al Jazeera, ‘Bombing attack on Catholic mass in Philippines kills four,’ 3 December 2023 IS claimed responsibility for the 3 December bombing. President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr., and other defense officials insinuated, but did not confirm, that foreign actors were involved in the attack.21Joviland Rita, ‘AFP validating Islamic State’s hand in MSU bomb attack,’ GMA News Online, 4 December 2023; Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales, ‘Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Philippine bombing,’ Reuters, 4 December 2023 At least nine more DI militants were killed in follow-up military operations in Maguindanao del Sur and neighboring towns in Cotabato on 7 December.22Edwin O. Fernandez, ‘AFP: 9 Dawlah Islamiyah gunmen slain in Maguindanao battle,’ INQUIRER.net, 8 December 2023 The most lethal day of fighting then occurred on 9 December, when 22 people were killed in Maguindanao del Sur as the DI engaged in a firefight with the formerly separatist rebel group MILF. Nine DI militants, eight MILF militants, and five civilians were killed in the 9 December clash. The MILF has been cooperating with state forces in fighting armed Islamist groups in Mindanao since signing its peace agreement with the government in 2014.
See More
See the Codebook and the User Guide for an overview of ACLED’s core methodology. For additional documentation, check the Resource Library. Region-specific methodology briefs can be accessed below.
Links:
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for Political Violence and Demonstrations in Afghanistan
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for Political Violence and Demonstrations in China
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for Political Violence and Demonstrations in Myanmar
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for Political Violence and Demonstrations in North Korea
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for the Philippines Drug War