Burma coup resistance notes August 16, 2022
Update on yesterday’s attack on the central police station in Kaw T’Ree town (Kawkareik on Burmese maps): Karen army forces killed all 12 police including the chief, and captured an office worker alive. They gained 6 rifles and a quantity of ammunition. Afterward, nearby junta troops fired mortars randomly into civilian areas. (Kawthoolei government information service/KNU) A local defense force is warning all junta staff in Kaw T’Ree to leave Kawthoolei immediately or be targeted as enemies. (Khit Thit Media) While the Karen army controls rural areas, the junta has dominated the towns, so this successful attack in the middle of town represents an advance by the Karen forces.
Ethnic regions-------------------
Also in Kawthoolei (Karen nation), a PDF in Doo Tha Htoo District (Kyaikto township on Burmese maps) ambushed a car carrying 3 junta border police disguised as civilians yesterday, with no survivors. (Salween Press)
The Kachin army staged a major ambush of a junta infantry column two nights ago into yesterday morning in Pinlebu township of northern Sagaing Region. Thirty-five junta troops are known to be killed, and the remainder retreated in chaos. The Kachin forces seized mortars, rifles, ammunition, and other supplies left by dead and retreating troops. (People's Spring)
In Chin State today, the fighting continued yesterday around the destroyed bridge on the Hakha-Htantalan road. Chin defense forces killed 15 junta troops who were trying to repair the bridge, and junta aircraft were unable to support the ground troops due to monsoon season weather in the high mountains. The Chin captured a number of weapons including mortars, a machine gun, rifles, and ammunition. If the junta can repair the bridge, it can re-assert control in Htantalan to the west, at least until the Chin blow the bridge again. (Mizzima)
Karenni defense forces announced results for the 2nd week of August. They conducted attacks on junta troops on the Loikaw-Shadaw road, in Shadaw township itself, Demawso, Bawlakhe township, and in Hpruso township. Junta troops kidnapped civilians as human shields in Hpruso. In all, 19 junta troops were killed and others wounded, and the Karenni captured some weapons and ammunition. One Karenni defender was also killed. The junta conducted airstrikes on a medical clinic in Loilin Lay in Loikaw township, killing a civilian and injuring two. (Than Lwin Khet News) Yesterday Karenni defense forces attacked junta invaders at Okuyi and Thaysulay villages of Demawso township using sniper and mortar fire; casualties aren’t known. (People's Spring)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
In Khin Oo township of Sagaing Region, junta troops kidnapped 7 young men age 15-22 on their way to work two days ago Aug. 14, took them away, and tortured and murdered them. Their bruised bodies were found dumped on the roadside. In Magway Region, other troops looted and burned Dataing village of Yesagyo township last night. (Khit Thit Media)
Another loss in the junta’s terrorist attack on Yinpawtai village on Aug. 14 was a supply of food, school items, and clothing for war refugees, burned by troops before they left and a PDF came in. The supplies were paid for with contributions from area people. Yinpawtai is located near the common borders of Sagaing, Magway, and Chin. (Myaelatt Athan)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
A Palay PDF reported today on a battle two days ago Aug. 14, in which junta troops who were looting and burning villages in Palay and Yinmapin townships were intercepted by a coalition of 4 area PDFs. The battle lasted from 3:30 to 6:00 pm, and 22 junta troops were killed. Six PDF fighters also died. (Than Lwin Khet News)
In Myaing township of Magway Region, local PDFs blew up junta convoys twice yesterday and today. This morning it blew up some troops stationed by a roadside, killing three and wounding two others. Yesterday 14 mines blew up a food supply convoy en route between Myaing and the Indian border town of Rikodar, killing 3 and wounding one. (Khit Thit Media)
In the dark silent morning hours yesterday, 3 explosions suddenly rocked a junta police barracks with no warning at Thapan Dam in Kyun Hla township of Sagaing Region. Three nearby PDFs were flying drones overhead and dropping bombs straight into the barracks. Casualties aren’t known, but most junta installations have no defense against such sudden deadly attacks from nowhere. (People's Spring)
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
The junta has run out of dollar reserves, leaving it unable to import anything. To raise some dollars, it is threatening to jail domestic business people who don’t hand them over to the regime. The junta also wants to export rice to raise dollars, though the country is suffering a food deficit. (Burma was a food exporter before the coup.) Fuel companies have had to buy US$50 million on the market using inflated Burmese kyat currency, which is trading now at over 3,000:1, compared to 1,300:1 before the coup. The junta is threatening to arrest anyone who trades dollars above the artificially imposed rate of 2,100:1. (Khit Thit Media) The generals still assume that using force will solve any problem.
A junta kangaroo court sentenced the elected head of state Aung San Suu Kyi to a seventeen-year jail term for supposed “corruption”. (The irony of this kleptocratic junta accusing anyone of corruption couldn’t be more acute.) In response, the European Union and the USA issued more Strongly-Worded Statements, warning the regime that if it doesn’t change its authoritarian ways, Western powers will frown very seriously.
Political prisoners held in Obo prison in Mandalay are on a hunger strike, and the junta has responded by beating them, throwing them in solitary confinement, and denying medical care. A student union leader had 3 teeth knocked out during torture. The regime is also demanding that any political party leaders not in prison (e.g. those collaborating with the junta) get permission before talking to foreigners. (The Irrawaddy)