Burma coup resistance notes January 27, 2024
Kachin, Pa-O, & Arakan liberate towns; junta loses its BGF lackey; first junta bases captured in Mon and Beit-Tavoy; airstrikes massacre civilians.
Northern Shan-------------------
Momeik town was captured by Kachin and Ta’ang armies and PDFs on Jan. 20 after a battle of several days. Jets then began bombing to destroy the town, killing at least 40 civilians so far. Administrative buildings, monasteries, and markets were wrecked. There are reports that all the prisoners in the city prison died. (Khit Thit Media 1/20)
The Ta’ang army (TNLA) also attacked 100 junta troops moving around in Mogok Township across the boundary in Mandalay Region on Jan. 25. The troops were forced to retreat after 15 were killed, losing 2 vehicles and ammunition. (Shwe Phee Myay 1/26)
The Brotherhood Alliance announced that its forces have seized 8 tanks, 16 armored vehicles, 2 multiple rocket launchers, and 20 artillery pieces during the first 90 days of Operation 10/27. Revolution forces have also shot down 5 helicopters and 3 jets since the Feb. 2021 attempted coup. (The Irrawaddy E 1/26)
Kachin-------------------
The Kachin army liberated Mabein and Nampatga towns in far northwestern Shan State adjacent to Kachin State on Jan. 21 and 23, respectively, in collaboration with the ABDSF and local PDF. It was a matter of clearing out the last resisting junta camps in and around the towns. (Khit Thit Media 1/21, 1/24)
The Kachin army captured a camp at Weka in Phakant Township on Jan. 20, killing over 30 troops, and the rest fled. The same day, the Kachin also attacked Dabatyan camp in Waingmaw Township, and fighting raged through Jan. 22. (The 74 Media 1/20) On Jan. 21 the Kachin seized another junta base at Manwinji in Mansi Township. Over 200 junta troops were captured as prisoners of war, at least 10 were killed, and the Kachin captured over 200 weapons. (The Irrawaddy B 1/21, Khit Thit Media 1/22)
Pa-O-------------------
Junta troops attacked and burned a convoy of the ethnic Pa-O PNLA militia in Sisaing Township, southern Shan State on Jan. 21, destroying several dozen weapons that the PNLA was transporting. Then the junta bombed a Pa-O village the next day, and the PNLA attacked and captured 3 small junta camps and a camp of the ethnic Pa-O junta lackey militia, the PNO. (Khit Thit Media 1/23)
Then on Jan. 25 the Pa-O and Karenni forces cleared the junta out of Sisaing town. The junta then dropped more than 100 bombs from jets. (Myanmar Now 1/25) The Pa-O are a small ethnic community and have been split between the junta lackey militia and Pa-O Revolutionary forces, but on Jan. 26 the pro-junta PNLO switched sides and announced it will fight the junta. (Khit Thit Media 1/27)
Arakan-------------------
A junta navy ship evacuated the last troops from Pauktaw town on Jan. 19, after the Arakan Army attacked it for over 2 months. The withdrawal leaves the town liberated. A large number of weapons was captured including artillery, and an injured junta lieutenant colonel was captured. (Myanmar Now 1/20)
The junta sent a cargo plane to Lengpui in Mizoram State in India to bring back 276 defeated soldiers chased out of Paletwa Township in Chin State by the Arakan Army. On. Jan. 23 that plane, loaded with the defeated soldiers, skidded off the runway in India and broke in half. About a dozen people were injured in the accident. Then the ambulance transporting those wounded crashed into an overhead concrete gate. (People's Spring 1/23) The junta sent a second plane that brought back the remaining uninjured troops. (The Irrawaddy B 1/25)
Kawthoolei-----------------
The ethnic Karen junta lackey militia, the BGF, has split from the junta as of Jan. 22. Chit Thu, warlord commander of the BGF, claims he initiated the split from the junta and stopped accepting salary payments. Junta deputy dictator Soe Win flew to Pa’an in a vain attempt to persuade the BGF to remain loyal. Chit Thu withdrew 300 BGF troops from Mutraw and Pa’an Districts to their home bases. Chit Thu says the BGF will maintain its Shwe Kokkol organized crime enclave despite Chinese and Thai efforts to shut it down. Chit Thu says the BGF will henceforth be a neutral, stand-alone militia. BGF families have been seen hoarding supplies in anticipation of some kind of action by or against them. (Karen Information Center, Than Lwin Times, DVB English 1/23) This split could shift the power balance in Kawthoolei, which already favors the Karen army over the junta, considerably more in that direction. The BGF has no political agenda, its business has been enrichment from organized crime, so the change of loyalty could be a strategic calculation as the junta declines militarily and Revolution forces gain the advantage.
Karen army Brigade 4 and four PDFs captured a junta base at Kyauktut in Tavoy Township, Beit-Tavoy District on Jan. 24, killing 15 troops and capturing 8 alive and seizing some weapons. They then burned and destroyed the camp. (Khit Thit Media 1/25) This is the first instance of capturing a camp in Beit-Tavoy, where the Karen army’s Brigade 4 has been mostly missing in action during this war.
Southern Beit-Tavoy PDFs also attacked another camp in Tenasserim Township on Jan. 25. The PDFs suggested that the junta troops surrender, and then opened fire when they refused. At least 5 junta troops were killed and 2 wounded. (Tanintharyi Times 1/26)
Mon-------------------
A coalition of Mon Revolutionary forces overran a junta camp at Mawtkanin in Ye Township on Jan. 20, killing at least 21 junta troops including an officer and capturing weapons. Other troops fled. (Dawna Column 1/21)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
PDFs on Monywa Township shot up 2 vehicles carrying 13 junta police in Monywa city on Jan. 21, killing 10 and wounding 2, according to the PDFs. (Khit Thit Media 1/23)
In Sagaing Regions’ Palay Township, PDFs attacked 80 junta troops who came from Monywa going toward Salinji Township near Lattaung village for about 4 hours, killing 17 of them and wounding others. The PDFs said about 30 of the 80 junta troops were still alive and healthy. A number of weapons was captured. (Khit Thit Media 1/23)
The Kachin army and PDFs attacked junta troops in Htee Chaing Township on Jan. 23 and 24, and the junta countered with helicopter attacks. At least 14 junta troops were killed as were 2 PDF soldiers. (Myaelatt Athan 1/24) Htee Chaing has been the scene of intense combat as the junta resists efforts to liberate it.
A 6-vehicle junta convoy was headed to reinforce a camp at Tantse with 120 troops and ammunition, when it was intercepted by PDFs and the communist “People’s Liberation Army.” Ten troops were killed and 20 were seriously wounded.
Urban warfare------------------
The Urban Special Operation unit in Mandalay fired five 107mm shock missiles into the junta’s Dandah Oo air base on Jan. 23. Seven more of the missiles malfunctioned and were left to the junta troops. Explosions and fire resulted from the attack, but details of damage aren’t available. (Khit Thit Media 1/24)
An urban PDF detonated 2 bombs on the junta’s gas pipeline in Hlaingthaya Township of Yangon on Jan. 22 where troops do inspections near a police station. Another planned attack on the Balintnaung Bridge leading to Hlaingthaya was called off due to the presence of civilians. (People's Spring 1/23)
The National Unity Government provided 50 military rifles including sniper rifles to the Yangon Military Division 5101 battalion on Jan. 25. (Mizzima 1/26)
Junta decline------------------
The junta condemned 3 of the 6 generals who surrendered at Laukkai on Jan. 14 to death for irresponsibility and dereliction of duty, and the other 3 to life imprisonment. It appointed replacements for them, but they don’t have bases or troops to command, since those were lost to the Kokang army. (DVB English 1/23)
Terrorism--------------------
The junta continues to kidnap youths and men age 18-60 and force them into pro-junta local militias in Bago Region, and that practice has now spread to Mandalay Region. Junta thugs in Sinku Township abducted males at gunpoint. Now women age 18-50 are also being abducted in Daik Oo Township of Bago Region. The forced recruitment has caused people to flee. (Myaelatt Athan 1/20) Two junta administrators involved in the forced recruitment in Minhla Township of Bago Region were assassinated on Jan. 21. (People's Spring 1/21)
Junta troops rounded up 60 villagers at gunpoint in Depayin Township on Jan. 19, then abducted 15 of them and took them to another village. Three of the men were found a day later with their heads, arms, and legs chopped off, and a woman was burned to death. (The Irrawaddy B 1/21) Most of Depayin town is liberated, and the remaining junta troops are almost unable to leave their bases. Their supply routes are cut. (Khit Thit Media 1/21)
Political and economic-------------------
As the new Ta’ang administration takes over civilian governance in northwestern Shan State, it published a statement on Jan. 21 inviting non-CDM (i.e. junta collaborationist) government staff to return to their jobs. This provoked an immediate objection from Revolutionary CDM government staff returning to work, and the administration backed off from its non-CDM invitation. (People's Spring 1/21)
Meanwhile in Chin State, the new Chinland civilian administration is taking shape. The Government of Chinland will announce selections for prime minister, executive cabinet, chief justice and other judges next week. (U.S. Campaign for Burma 1/24)
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