Burma coup resistance notes August 23, 2022
Heavy fighting currently in Kawthoolei Dooplaya District; Kachin army stuns junta forces; Arakan army forces junta to retreat from seven of its camps; junta terror squads continue burning villages.
Ethnic regions-------------------
Heavy fighting is going on today in Kawthoolei (Karen nation) Dooplaya District (Myawaddy and Kawkareik townships on Burmese maps). Ground battles are taking place on both the Myawaddy-Waw Lay road at the Three-story Bend again, and on the Asia highway between Mwawaddy and Kaw T’Ree (Kawkareik town on Burmese maps). No information is available yet about outcomes, but 4 junta jets have bombed Three-story Bend again, which usually happens if its ground troops are in trouble. The jets also overflew the Kaw T’Ree area, but have not been able to target bombs there.
In yesterday’s fighting in the same area, the Karen Cobra Column killed 3 junta troops as they tried to invade Three-story Bend and wounded many more, but that number remains to be determined. The Karen forces lost one member killed in battle and three wounded. (Khit Thit Media)
To the northwest, a Russian-supplied junta attack helicopter fired on civilian areas of Mone township in Kawthoolei Kler Lwi Htoo District (Kyaukgyi township on Burmese maps) this morning, causing hundreds of villagers to flee into the jungle in the rain. Nothing is known yet about casualties or ground operations. (People's Spring)
In Kawthoolei Beit-Tavoy District (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps), two junta trucks full of troops were blown up by large bombs this morning on their way from Ye Phyu toward Dawei city. Casualties aren’t known, but some troops were rushed to the Dawei hospital. A local PDF is assumed to be responsible. (Mizzima) There was a battle in Tanintharyi township on Aug. 19-20, just reported today, in which junta troops attacked PDF positions and took return fire. Five junta troops were killed along with 2 PDF soldiers; three other PDF fighters were wounded, not seriously, and evacuated to a liberated area near the Thai border. (People's Spring)
In Arakan and southern Chin State, the junta army has also suffered defeats against the Arakan army. After several battles in Maungdaw township of northern Arakan State and Paletwa township of Chin State, junta troops were running low on food and ammunition and had to abandon their camps and retreat. Seven camps in Maungdaw have been abandoned, comprising hundreds of troops. The AA has also cut off supply routes in Paletwa and has surrounded some junta battalions.
The Kachin army and allied PDF have inflicted a stunning defeat on the junta in yesterday’s battle at Bantbwe Kone in Kathah township. The Kachin-led forces killed 34 junta troops in battle, and 8 more were killed by friendly fire when junta jets swooped in and dropped bombs. The battle lasted 2 hours, and the junta troops became trapped against a bank of the Irrawaddy River. They were pelted with Kachin fire until a support unit came from across the river to help them retreat. (Khit Thit Media)
Kachin-led forces were also in action yesterday in Indaw township of northern Sagain, where they faced off for 45 minutes against 50 junta troops. Six junta troops and four resistance fighters died in that battle. (Mizzima)
Chin defense forces attacked a junta patrol just across the border in Kalay town, Sagaing Region for 2 hours yesterday, killing 2 troops. The others then retreated to a village, then went forward again later, leading to another battle in which one junta soldier died. (People's Spring)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
In Kantbalu township of Sagaing Region, a junta terror squad attacked and burned Nyaung Kone village yesterday. They started with gunfire, driving out residents, then ransacked homes, then burned the entire village to the ground. The junta has destroyed more than 30 villages in Kantbalu township alone, causing many residents to live as part of the 1.2 million internal refugees since the coup. A Kantbalu PDF did, however, attack a junta village terror squad yesterday at Hmawtaw village, killing 10 junta/Pyu Saw Htee operatives.
In Htee Chaing township junta troops attacked and burned Ye Phyu Lwin village yesterday, where they were counter-attacked by local PDFs using drone bombs and locally-made mortars. The PDFs killed 10 more junta/Pyu Saw Htee operatives, according to the National Unity Government. Two PDF soldiers were injured. (Khit Thit Media)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, a PDF coalition in Tantse township attacked a junta column of about 100 troops today using roadside bombs followed by gunfire. Fighting lasted for 90 minutes; junta casualties aren’t known, while the PDFs withdrew with no casualties. (People's Spring)
Southern Sagaing PDFs, led by CDSOM from Myaung township, have delivered relief supplies to thousands of refugees left homeless in Yesagyo township of Magway Region by junta terrorist attacks. The supplies include rice, cooking oil, and other foods, pillows and blankets, and other items donated by civilians through the PDFs, which are the armed protection forces of the local civilian populations. (People's Spring)
Two days ago Aug. 21, local PDFs in Yinmapin township confronted the junta troops who had landed by helicopter to conduct village terrorist raids. A battle lasted over an hour, and killed 4 troops. One PDF soldier was also killed. (Mizzima)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon Region, a car carrying 6 local junta administrators in Twantw township was returning from a meeting called by the regime yesterday evening when a local PDF opened fire on the car, killing all six. (Mizzima) An urban guerrilla group bombed a junta admin office in Mayangone township yesterday, and a PDF assassinated a local junta administrator in South Dagon township today.
In Mandalay, a couple was assassinated this morning by urban guerrillas; the man was chief of the police investigation unit, involved in setting up surveillance camera technology for the junta, and is blamed for the identification, capture, and murder of many urban guerrillas in Mandalay recently. A high-ranking urban junta admin official was also assassinated yesterday on his way toward Pyin Oo Lwin. (People's Spring)
Also in Mandalay, a junta-collaborationist rector and the finance department head at Yadanapon University ratted on five professors and staff who are on civil disobedience strike (CDM), resulting in the arrest and torture of these five academics for opposition to the junta. The identities and photos of the rector and finance director have been made public. (Khit Thit Media)
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
A junta army sergeant left his unit and joined the Palay township PDF in Sagaing Region recently. He was warmly welcomed and said he had been trying for some time to find a safe way to cross the front line. (People's Spring)