Ethnic regions-------------------
A battle is raging this evening on the Asia Highway east of Kaw T’Ree (Kawkareik town on Burmese maps) in Dooplaya District. This is in the area where Karen forces sabotaged a bridge on Dec. 16 and cut traffic and junta supplies to Myawaddy on the Thai border.
In Doo Tha Htoo District of Kawthoolei (Bilin township on Burmese maps), the Karen army and allied PDFs used landmines to destroy 2 transport vehicles out of 6 that were filled with food and supplies heading toward Mutraw District (Hpapun township on Burmese maps). The junta is attempting to replenish its troops and supplies in Mutraw, where Karen army Brigade 5 regularly kills dozens of them per month. (Salween Press)
In Mutraw District itself, junta jets spent the past 2 days bombing civilian communities at Wa Tho Law and Klo Kee villages of Dwelo township. They destroyed 19 homes and rice granaries and force the populations to flee into the jungle. (Karen Peace Support Network)
More information on the Dec. 16 Karen army attack in Kaw T’Ree: A junta captain and a warrant officer were killed; members of a women’s battalion were also killed and wounded, and at least one of the dead was pregnant. At least 7 troops died and 9 were wounded, and 1 Karen soldier was killed and 2 wounded. Jet bombing yesterday only hit jungle, causing no damage. (Ayeyarwaddy Times, People’s Spring)
The Kachin army and allied PDFs confronted junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorists in Indaw township of northern Sagaing Region over the past 3 days, causing 40 casualties, of which at least 10 killed, out of a terror squad of 70 that had attacked at least 4 villages. (Kachin News Group)
In Chin State, former USA army special forces trainers are training Chin army soldiers. They are originally from Burma but served in the American military. (Mizzima)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
In another assault on the food supply, pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee terrorists shot and killed a farmer for harvesting his own paddy (rice) crop in Ma U Pin village of Shwebo township, Sagaing Region today. Pyu Saw Htee have been using stolen combine tractors to steal and harvest farmers’ crops. (Khit Thit Media)
Members of the pro-junta Thway Thauk (blood-drinking) terrorist group abducted a random civilian woman in Nwatogyi township of Mandalay Region on Dec. 17, stabbed her to death, cut off her head, and dumped the body by a road with wrists still tied. This was in retaliation for the assassination of a local junta administrator. (Khit Thit Media)
A junta terrorist gang burned Taukshapin village in Pauk township, Magway Region yesterday. There was no report of any PDF activity prior to the assault. (People's Spring)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, a PDF in Yinmapin township bombed a Pyu Saw Htee terrorist gang as it was returning to camp after destroying villages on Dec. 17. All 15 Pyu Saw Htee in the group were hit, and the PDF thinks 11 died. They were unable to return fire. (Khit Thit Media)
Four junta police fled their unit with full weapons at Nansipon jade port on the Irrawaddy River in Kandi township of Sagaing Region on Dec. 17. Also, a soldier guarding a bridge in Shweku township of Kachin State deserted with his weapons. In both cases junta troops are searching for the deserters. (Khit Thit Media)
In Monywa township, local PDFs have fired more 40mm grenades into the Tawpu Pyu Saw Htee camp; casualties aren’t known. PDFs persistently fire on this camp to reduce the terrorists’ opportunities to attack civilian villages. (People's Spring)
During last night’s World Cup football tournament finale, a coalition of 6 PDFs fired locally-manufactured mortars and drone bombs into 4 locations in Myaung township where junta troops and police were gathered to watch the game. These were troops that just returned from destroying villages. The bombing was followed by gun battles. The number of casualties isn’t known. (Mizzima)
In Mandalay Region, a PDF in Maddaya township stopped a private truck that had been hired by the junta to supply its troops there. The PDF seized rifle and machine gun ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade, communication devices, batteries, and food. The private driver was released. (Mizzima)
In Irrawaddy Region, which has seen relatively little Revolutionary activity, junta army camps are starting to put in perimeter defenses like those of front line camps, with trenches and berms and sharpened bamboo fences, evidently fearing imminent attack. (Ayeyarwaddy Times) Troops from these camps have been deployed to Arakan State and other high conflict areas, so their manpower has been weakened.
Urban warfare------------------
After the Dec. 16 missile attack on the junta air base in Mingaladon, Yangon, an urban PDF fired 3 locally-manufactured long range missiles into the air base at Hmawbi in northern Yangon Region on Dec. 17. They were aiming for the ammunition depot but hit other things. There was a report of ambulances afterward. Specific information about damage isn’t reported. (People's Spring)
Junta operatives set off a bomb on board an urban ferry boat in Yangon yesterday, wounding 17 civilians. It was the Pansodan-Dala ferry, and the suspicion is that the junta intends to use the bombing as a propaganda event to blame urban PDFs, except that PDFs never target civilians and will even call off attacks on junta targets to avoid the possibility of harming civilians. (Mizzima)
Political and economic-------------------
The National Unity Government has opened the on-line Spring University, with an initial enrollment of 2,472 students, and offering more than 30 subjects. The Spring University is partnered with Wellington University in New Zealand. After the Revolution, credits earned can be applied at brick-and-mortar institutions. (People's Spring)
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