Burma coup resistance notes December 20, 2022
Ethnic regions-------------------
Karen army Brigade 1 again blew up a junta convoy the night of Dec. 18. This time it was a 3-vehicle convoy going from Thaton township toward Mutraw District (Hpapun township on Burmese maps), and one truck was completely destroyed, 2 troops were killed and 3 wounded. (Salween Press)
In Beit-Tavoy District of Kawthoolei (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps), a PDF clashed with junta troops in Thayetchaung township 2 days ago Dec. 18; 3 troops died. The troops responded by burning civilian homes and vehicles, and fired mortars randomly, killing a local man. The next day (yesterday) a PDF bombed the Thayetchaung junta police barracks. Whether it was the same PDF isn’t reported.
Also in Thayetchaung township, junta troops rounded up and kidnapped 60 random civilians in Chaung Hnitkwa village yesterday to use as human shields. These were men and women with children, going about their daily tasks, when they were forced to drop whatever they were doing and be marched away at gunpoint. Their whereabouts are still unknown. (Khit Thit Media)
A local junta administrator who was selling illicit drugs, and a Pyu Saw Htee terrorist leader were assassinated in Launglone township near Dawei. (Khit Thit Media)
In Ye township of Mon State this afternoon, a PDF soldier sat by a roadside with a rocket-propelled grenade until a junta truck came by. He fired at close range and blew up the truck, killing 4 troops and seriously wounding 3. There were no PDF casualties. A video of the attack is circulating. (Khit Thit Media)
In Chin State, houses in junta-occupied Matupi town that have been vacated since people fled regime violence are getting broken into and looted. Almost all the civilian homes have been robbed of food, valuables, livestock, clothes, and anything that can be sold. (Ayeyarwaddy Times)
Chin defense forces in Paletwa township are typical in that they are trained to provide normal and battlefield medical care to their soldiers and the public in their liberated areas. However, due to lack of money, they are short of medicines. Another constraint is a junta prohibition on the transport of medicines, a part of the strategy to maximize civilian death, although the Chin can sometimes find back routes to bypass junta checkpoints. A third problem is the distance to hospitals in cases of serious injury requiring surgery, such as landmine or gunshot wounds; the journey can take 2 days by stretcher and hired car. (Than Lwin Khet News)
The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) is investigating the killing of 6 pro-junta, ethnic Karenni BGF troops during an attack 3 days ago Dec. 17 on junta forces in Bawlakhe township. The KNDF says it aims to avoid fighting between Karenni people. (People's Spring)
The number of junta-appointed local administrators in Arakan State who have resigned recently is up to almost 100. They feel insecure due to the persistent tension between junta and Arakan authorities, and have been warned to resign or be treated as occupiers. (The Irrawaddy)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Yesterday about 100 junta troops invaded Kyauk Hmaw village in Yinmapin township of Sagaing Region. A local PDF helped residents to escape ahead of the troops so they wouldn’t get killed, but the troops shot 2 PDF soldiers to death as they were helping. Then they proceeded to burn Kyauk Hmaw village. (Mizzima)
Junta troops burned down Taukshapin village in Pauk township of Magway Region 2 nights ago Dec. 18. (People's Spring) When junta terrorists destroyed Payn In village of Indaw township on Dec. 17, they left behind the corpses of 4 murdered civilians by the village monastery. Two had been shot, the other 2 beaten to death. Those troops burned Setdaw Kone village today. (Kachin News Group)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
A PDF patrol ran into a junta police patrol on Dec. 18 in Salingyi township, leading to a gunfight, recorded on video. Four of the 5 police were killed, including the commander, and the PDF captured their weapons, consisting of Uzi machine guns and ammunition, as well as their vehicle. The police shot dead one civilian during the exchange. (Mizzima)
This morning PDFs fired grenades at 10 junta troops guarding a police barracks at Nyaungpinwan in Sagaign township. There are 60 troops in the barracks. While casualties aren’t known, ambulances did arrive after the attack. The PDF withdrew safely. A video shows the attack. (Myaelatt Athan)
A PDF launched an attack on a junta/Pyu Saw Htee camp at Nyaunguto in Sagaing township yesterday, killing 11 terrorists and wounding others, but the PDF lost 1 soldier killed and 3 wounded. It was serious enough for the junta that a helicopter had to come to the camp’s defense. (The 74 Media)
A PDF fired grenades at junta troops guarding a bank in Shwebo township of Sagaing Region last night. There were casualties, but the number isn’t known. (Myaelatt Athan)
Ten PDFs collaborated to attack a junta camp of about 100 troops in the Kyaukkwet oil field of Myaing township, Magway Region yesterday. The PDFs used drone bombs and rifle fire; the junta fired back with mortars. The outcome isn’t reported yet. (Myaelatt Athan)
The Kalay township PDF is recruiting new soldiers to fly drones for reconnaissance and bombing; it will provide technology training. The Burmese People’s Defense Army in Mutraw District of Kawthoolei is recruiting regular soldiers, which implies that it has sufficient weapons. This is in contrast to many PDFs who have more soldiers than weapons. The BPDA operates under the leadership of the Karen army.
A PDF in Monywa is using and displaying a 70mm carriage-mounted canon with anti-recoil mechanism that it has developed on its own. (Myaelatt Athan)
Political and economic-------------------
Norway’s government sovereign wealth fund is cutting ties with Thailand state-owned oil company PTT because PTT is a partner in the illegal Burma junta’s Yadana offshore gas and oil project, and thus funds the genocide currently taking place in Burma. (People's Spring)
The Myaelatt Athan (midland voice) news outlet carried a story today about the economic hardships experienced by government staff who have been on strike since the illegal coup as part of the Civil Disobedience Movement. For a while they could survive on public donations and National Unity Government subsidies, but those have trailed off, leaving some in desperate circumstances and poor health. Myaelatt Athan says some are even considering selling their kidneys.
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