Burma coup resistance notes August 9, 2022
Ethnic regions-------------------
After storming a junta army camp in Seizin village of Hpakant township yesterday, the Kachin army and allied PDF are today attacking the junta police barracks in that location. The outcome isn't clear yet. (People's Spring)
In Karenni State, junta jets bombed a refugee camp in eastern Loikaw township today, hitting nothing but causing war-traumatized children in a school to start crying and then run out into the bush. There was no military action preceding this strike, it was an act of terrorism only. (Than Lwin Khet News)
In Kawthoolei Kler Lwi Htoo District (Kyaukgyi township on Burmese maps), 2 junta helicopters came to bomb Pethaung village; airstrikes are extremely expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars each time. The helicopters fired 5 missiles and caused severe damage to some trees. The Karen army then fired back, damaging one of the aircraft and forcing it to land in a school compound that is being used as a junta base. (Mizzima)
The Kawthoolei government (KNU) published the battle statistics of the Karen army for the month of July: There were 259 conflicts in which 386 junta troops were killed and 276 wounded. Twelve Karen soldiers were killed and 26 wounded, all in Dooplaya District. The junta killed 19 civilians and injured 26 others, almost all through indiscriminate mortar fire into villages and farmland. Seventeen junta vehicles were destroyed. One quarter of the junta fatalities were in Mutraw District alone, while 23% occurred in Taw Oo, 19% each in Dooplaya and Kler Lwi Htoo, 8% in Beit-Tavoy, and 0% in Pa-an District. The Karen army was not alone responsible for all of the junta casualties, as PDFs fight alongside the Karen army brigades. In some cases (Taw Oo and Beit-Tavoy) the PDFs usually fight alone.
In Chin State, the junta advance has stalled on the Hakha-Htantalan road where it is trying to repair a bridge blown up by Chin defense forces. Rain and Chin snipers have prevented junta troops from getting to the site of the bridge in the steep mountain terrain. Yesterday snipers killed 3 troops. (Mizzima)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorism gangs attacked and burned Mukanji and Sutap villages of Depayin township yesterday. (Kachin News Group) Other troops trashed Yelehmaw village of Wetlet township on the Irrawaddy River, possibly in connection with a junta supply flotilla moving up the river. They destroyed food processing businesses and vehicles, then looted and burned homes. (Khit Thit Media)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, a PDF in Chaung Oo township laid roadside bombs and landmines for a force of 120 troops moving from the main town to a Pyu Saw Htee camp this morning. The troops used a jammer and found and removed 16 bombs and mines. Fourteen others exploded, however, killing 12 troops. (People's Spring)
PDFs in Kani township attacked a junta column three times on Aug. 7, killing a total of 16 troops during the day, according to a PDF source. (Myaelatt Athan) In the same township, PDFs on the banks of the Chindwin River fired on junta supply boats going upstream on Aug. 7 for more than half an hour, hitting 2 junta military escort boats with locally-made mortars and killing at least 20 troops on board. (People's Spring) It is rainy season and the current is strong, slowing the boats and additionally exposing them to PDF fire.
Also relating to junta supply boats, 3 trucks that came to provide security for junta boats on the Irrawaddy River were attacked by a PDF in Thapaytchin township of Mandalay Region with 7 roadside bombs yesterday, destroying one truck and killing 5 troops. (Khit Thit Media)
In Tantse township a column of 100 junta troops left Tantse town yesterday and was ambushed by a local PDF, causing an unspecified number of casualties during a 15-minute fusillade, after which the remaining troops turned and fled back to the town. (Khit Thit Media)
There was another day of fighting in Kalay township yesterday, when a column of 20 junta troops was marching along a road in the rain and marched into a PDF ambush. The Kalay PDF says it fired for about an hour, and some troops jumped into a ditch and others ran. At least 10 were killed, and they left their backpack/baskets lying in the road. (People's Spring)
In Yinmapin township, a PDF blew up a junta patrol on Aug. 7, killing 3 troops.
Forty junta troops raided a PDF camp in Monywa township of Sagaing Region yesterday. Most of the PDF members escaped, but the junta caught 3 of them and beat them until their heads split open. The PDF lost some locally-made guns, bags of rice, motorcycles, solar panels, and other equipment. (People's Spring)
In Mandalay Region, a PDF in Nwatogyi township fired grenades at junta troops on Aug. 7, killing 3 junta troops and a major, and wounding 5 others. (Khit Thit Media)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, a local junta administrator was assassinated yesterday in Tamwe township.
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
Junta dictator Min Aung Hlaing said yesterday that the country must reduce oil imports to US$1 billion per year. In practice, all imports are drastically reduced or stopped by the junta's dwindling foreign currency reserves and the imposition of an artificially low exchange rate, but this announcement gives the impression that the oil shortage, at least, is a deliberate policy decision. Already parts of the country are running out of fuel, and the shortages are expected to accelerate. (People's Spring)