Burma coup resistance notes January 1, 2023
Karen forces fighting the junta north, south, and center; People's Defense Forces launch numerous New Year attacks.
Karen army battles on multiple fronts-------------------
Some junta troops tried to move from Natji in Doo Tha Htoo District of Kawthoolei (Bilin township on Burmese maps) over to Mepali in Mutraw District (Hpapun township on Burmese maps) on Dec. 28. They were confronted by the Karen army, which killed 5 junta troops during a 3-day battle. Yesterday the junta troops had to retreat, leaving their dead for the Karen to bury. (Ayeyarwaddy Times)
Update on the 2-day battle in Palaw township, Beit-Tavoy District of Kawthoolei (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps): As 300 junta troops entered the area from Myeik and burned down 3 villages Dec. 30-31, Karen PDFs kept up their coordinated attacks, and say they have killed about 50 of the troops and wounded 30 others. They say they have now driven the troops back out of the area. (People's Spring)
Further south in Tanintharyi township, Karen PDFs launched 2 small-scale attacks early this morning, one at a junta bridge checkpoint, one on an artillery battalion. Seven junta troops were killed, and a junta assault rifle was captured. (Khit Thit Media) Normally attacks like this would attract a heavy junta response, but now its troops are under fire and on the defensive in other locations as well.
Meanwhile a pitched battle began last night and is still ongoing in Dooplaya District of Kawthoolei (Kyainseikgyi township on Burmese maps). Karen forces attacked junta troops and their BGF proxies in Taungsoon village, Win Yay region. Today the junta fought back with a jet and 2 helicopter gunships, dropping bombs and setting some buildings on fire. No casualty reports are available yet. (Karen Information Center) The battle in Kaw T’Ree township, further north in Dooplaya District, is also still ongoing. Both are being fought by Karen army Brigade 6 and PDF allies.
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Troops killed a 7-year-old boy in Mawlaik township of Sagaing Region by blowing a hole in his side with a mortar in Wedaung village, and tortured 3 civilians to death. One was found still tied to a post. Then they burned houses in Tatkone and and Wekatha villages. Meanwhile in Magway Region troops slit the throat of a villager in Sule Kone, Pauk township. (Khit Thit Media)
Terrorist troops burned Mataw and Letpansayt villages today in Minkin township of Sagaing Region.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
As 3 junta soldiers emerged from their camp in Myinmu town, Sagaing Region early this morning, they were blown up at 6:40 a.m. by a local PDF; 2 died and the other was seriously wounded. The PDF is describing it as it’s New Year’s gift to the junta. Last night a PDF left a parcel bomb in a public plaza, also in Myinmu town, and when junta troops came to investigate, it exploded. Casualties aren’t known. (Myaelatt Athan)
Coordinated PDFs carried out simultaneous attacks on a police barracks and a Pyu Saw Htee camp at Pakanji in Yesagyo township, Magway Region yesterday. They came close to overrunning the police barracks but were driven back by the arrival of reinforcements. Junta casualties aren’t known, other than one police woman killed; the PDFs withdrew safely. (People's Spring)
PDFs fired locally-manufactured mortars and rifles at the Zee Phyu Kone junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorist camp in Palay township 2 nights ago Dec. 30, killing 5 of the enemy. (Mizzima)
A PDF blew up a junta convoy of 59 troops going from Nwatogyi to Myinchan in Mandalay Region 2 days ago Dec. 30. Casualties are estimated at 7 junta dead and 8 wounded. (People's Spring)
Someone hung a banner advocating resistance to the junta’s sham election, in Thekone township of Bago Region overnight. Three junta police went to remove it and were blown up by a booby trap; one died and the others are wounded. (Khit Thit Media) Also in Bago Region, a dalan and coup supporter was assassinated in Hinthada township this morning. (Mizzima)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, a local junta administrator whose actions led to the abduction of urban PDF members and Civil Disobedience participants was assassinated in Hlaingthaya township today. (Khit Thit Media)
In Monywa city, junta troops broke into a monastery and stole 2 ambulances belonging to a religious medical charity yesterday. (Myaelatt Athan) The illegal regime has waged war on the health sector since the Feb. 2021 coup; besides that, it sometimes smuggles troops in civilian clothes riding in stolen ambulances to try to avoid PDF attacks on the roads.
In Bago city, just east of Yangon, there were 3 guerrilla attacks on junta checkpoints and gates last night, killing at least 2 troops, though casualties are unknown for 2 of the 3 attacks. (Mizzima)
Political and economic-------------------
Kawthoolei government (KNU) spokesman Saw Taw Ni said in a New Year’s address today that junta dictator’s talk about peace and elections is empty, since the terrorist group (the junta) continually attacks the ethnic minorities including the Karen. He said the junta’s planned fake elections will have no credibility. (People's Spring)
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