Burma coup resistance notes August 22, 2022
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Arakan State, another battle occurred this morning between the Arakan and Burma armies in Maungdaw township, lasting an hour. No results have been reported yet. (Khit Thit Media)
In Karenni Region, skirmishes continue daily in Loikaw, Demawso and Hpruso townships. The junta is firmly in control of the state capital Loikaw, and is massing troops to try to take Demawso town, 20 km southwest of Loikaw town, most of which is held by Karenni defense forces. (Local sources) Junta troops have been firing long-range 120mm mortars toward Demawso from Loikaw, while the constant skirmishes kill several junta troops each day. A Karenni soldier died in battle 2 days ago Aug. 20. (People's Spring)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
In Pauk township of Magway Region junta troops have been looting and burning in 5 villages over the past 3 days, forcing the entire population of the area to flee into the rain-soaked countryside with only what they could carry. The villages are Sathein, Nyaung Yin, Gwegone, Gehpin In, and Letlan. Looted belongings from the homes were loaded into 5 vehicles and driven away, and the troops killed and ate the people’s livestock. (Khit Thit Media)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, the TGR Women’s Drone Force and CRA Drone Team jointly bombed a Pyu Saw Htee terror squad camp in Kangyigone village on Aug. 20, causing a fire, killing 4 junta or Pyu Saw Htee members and wounding 5. A drone video is provided.
In Kathah township, the Kachin army and allied PDF attacked junta troops today at the Bantbwe junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorist camp for 3 hours; four PDF fighters received slight injuries, while casualties on the junta side aren’t known. Junta troops are firing mortars in random directions. On Aug. 20 the Myo Hla PDF fought 80 junta troops twice, killing 5 troops and wounding others. The troops were deployed along the Irrawaddy River to protect junta supply boats from PDF mortar and gunfire from the banks. They responded to the PDF attack with indiscriminate mortar fire which killed one civilian.
In Mandalay Region, a PDF bombed a convoy of 27 junta troops yesterday in Maddaya township, killing 3 of them and wounding 8 others. A video shows the explosion and later evidence of the junta casualties. (People's Spring)
In Magway Region a column of 70 junta troops raided a PDF camp today in Gangaw township. No PDF members were caught because they were out fighting, but the troops burned and took away food and other supplies. (Than Lwin Khet News)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, an urban PDF fired a 40mm grenade at the notorious Insein Prison today, injuring one staff member. The same day, 2 unusually loud explosions were heard in quick succession at or near the prison. Bombs also exploded in East Dagon (3 bombs targeting the junta courthouse and electric company), Tharketa, Bahan, Hlaing Thar Yar, and Ahlone townships of Yangon last night. In Thalyin township a dalan (regime spy) was assassinated yesterday. (Khit Thit Media)
In Mandalay, the junta and urban guerrilla groups are competing to capture and kill each other. The junta has rounded up over 20 urban fighters in August, while the guerrillas continue to detonate bombs and assassinate dalans and local junta administrators. (Myanmar Now)
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Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
Due to the danger posed by PDFs on roads and also now on rivers, the junta has begun shipping illegally-mined jade from Kachin State by air, trucking it to Kalay and flying it out from there. It is sold in China. (People's Spring)
The junta kidnapped the wealthy owner of a major Burma gem company, Tura, on Aug. 17 on suspicion of assisting PDFs, and his considerable assets were seized. (Mizzima) Many prominent resource extraction companies, including jade and gems, collude with the junta and provide kickbacks to the cash-strapped regime. The imprisonment of a gem company CEO could be for failure to pay the kickbacks, or as a way to appropriate someone’s personal wealth for the regime.