Burma coup resistance notes August 19, 2022
Ethnic regions-------------------
Fighting and airstrikes are taking place in Kawthoolei (Karen nation) Dooplaya District (Myawaddy township on Burmese maps) at the Three-story Bend on the Myawaddy-Waw Lay road. Jets dropped bombs at 11:30 pm last night and around 10 a.m. today, and then junta troops at their Palu camp began firing mortars. The troops tried to invade southward again last night, but were repulsed again with losses by Karen army Cobra column. (Than Lwin Khet News, People’s Spring)
Also in Dooplaya District, since Karen forces captured the police station and its weapons in Kaw T’Ree town (Kawkareik) on Aug. 15, fighting has occurred daily. That same day the Karen attacked a guard post at a regime-owned bank, and junta troops from a camp in nearby Maungma New Village attacked Kaw T’Ree, and witnesses say they suffered losses from Karen defenders, who captured more weapons and ammunition. Fighting has recurred each day since then. Residents have taken to hiding in bunkers and even in water when shelling starts. Apparently junta troops are currently in control of the town. (People's Spring) Yesterday Karen forces attacked a junta camp along the Asia Highway between Kaw T’Ree and Myawaddy for 100 minutes, killing 6 junta troops including an officer, but the commander of the Karen Black Panther PDF was also killed. Six other junta troops were wounded. (Than Lwin Khet News)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Bodies of civilians are still being found in Yinpawtai village of Magway Region after the junta occupied and destroyed it Aug. 11-14. The latest discoveries are a 9th grade student age 16 and a 20 year-old woman who were both gang-raped and murdered by the troops. Eighteen bodies have now been found, but other people are still missing. The troops who committed the terrorist attack are now 8 km away, attacking another village, so the people of Yinpawtai still cannot return to the ruins of their village. (Mizzima)
In Minkin township of Sagaing Region, a junta terror squad invaded and burned Thindaw village yesterday. There are about 500 houses, there, but it isn’t possible yet to quantify the number of destroyed homes. Minkin township is along the Chindwin River, where the passage of junta supply fleets has caused fighting along the banks. Residents have fled into the bush, where the heavy rains make it difficult to cook, sleep, and maintain health. (Mizzima)
About 200 junta troops arrived in northern Yinmapin and southern Kani townships yesterday and began burning Kapine and Zeekone villages, leveling about 1000 homes in Kapine. Residents have fled to nearby villages or are sleeping in the bush. (Myanmar Now)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
Yesterday a junta de-mining team found three PDF bombs along the Monywa-Mandalay road, removed them, and loaded them into their truck. The PDF then detonated the bombs remotely, killing 12 troops in the truck and in a vehicle standing next to it. Others were injured. (People's Spring) Presumably the de-mining team would have defused the bombs before loading them into a truck, so it could be that the PDF built a false detonator connection into its bombs that left them still live after the de-miners thought they had defused them.
In Sagaing Region, junta troops planted a large minefield around the Chinese-owned copper mine in Letpandaung after PDFs shot some of the junta troops guarding it. Yesterday a PDF announced that it dug up 78 mines, safely, and has them available for used against the junta. (Than Lwin Khet News) A PDF attacked a junta outpost in Chaung Oo township yesterday, causing 4 fatalities and unknown injuries. (Khit Thit Media)
In Kantbalu township, a PDF attacked junta troops in Kotaungbo village last night, killing 3 troops. The junta responded by firing mortars at a civilian community, killing 2 women. These troops have been destroying villages at Pintha and Ingutto. (People's Spring)
PDFs in Katha township fired locally-made mortars and Mytel cannons at 6 junta supply boats ascending the Irrawaddy River yesterday, hitting one of the boats, despite junta aircraft protecting the flotilla. Nothing else is reported about the incident. (People's Spring)
In Magway Region, PDFs ambushed 70 junta troops and police marching on foot in southern Gangaw township yesterday, killing 6 of them and wounding 10. One policeman was captured alive after he fled the ambush. (People's Spring) Another PDF fired 40 mortar shells and rifle fire at junta troops camped at a school in northern Myaing township yesterday, and also fired on a junta checkpoint in the western part of the township. Another PDF opened fire on a junta patrol in Pauk township, killing 1 soldier and wounding 4. (Khit Thit Media)
Also in Gangaw township on Aug. 17, a PDF coalition attacked a police barracks for 90 minutes at Minwya (the second time in a week), using locally-made mortars, gunfire, and drone bombs. A drone video of the attack was provided. Junta casualties haven’t been counted yet. (People's Spring)
In Pakokku industrial zone yesterday, a PDF coalition conducted a surprise attack on a junta guard post, killing 6 troops and wounding at least 3. The PDFs withdrew safely when junta reinforcements began to arrive. (Mizzima)
The junta ministry of agriculture premises in Magway town have been fired on repeatedly by PDFs, but the junta says that staff will have to provide their own security because the army has no available manpower. (Myaelatt Athan)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, an urban PDF fired a grenade into a junta guard post in front of the regime electric company in Dagon Port township last night. A grenade scored a direct hit into the bunker, but casualties aren’t known at this point. (Mizzima) A dalan was assassinated in Shwepyitha township this morning. (Myanmar Now)
In Monywa city, an urban PDF blew up a vehicle carrying 8 junta police and troops last night, killing at least 3 of them and wounding the others. It was in a convoy with other vehicles. (Myaelatt Athan)
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
The junta is trying to entice young men from a drug- and crime-ridden shantytown in Mandalay to join the army. Many are addicted or homeless. So far, there have been no takers. (Mizzima) In its deepening manpower shortage, the junta military has been taking desperate measures to get warm bodies of any kind into its uniforms.