Burma coup resistance notes January 20, 2024
Paletwa Township liberated; Kachin shoot down a jet; Kachin seize several camps; civilians forced into pro-junta militias.
Northern Shan-------------------
The junta continued its bombing of civilian areas with jets, helicopters, and mortars despite the supposed Jan. 11 “ceasefire” staged by China between the Brotherhood alliance and the junta. The Ta’ang reported numerous villages in at least 4 townships receiving the fire, and said the ground offensive would continue. (Khit Thit Media 1/15)
The Kokang administration announced that all directives of the former junta administration are canceled. The junta has been completely cleared from the Kokang self-administered zone. (People's Spring 1/15)
Arakan-------------------
The Arakan Army captured the last remaining junta camps in Paletwa Township as well as another nearby in Kyauktaw Township on Jan. 13-14, seizing a large haul of weapons including tanks and killing at least 20 junta troops. Junta shelling killed 5 civilians. The AA now has total control of Paletwa Township except the portion where Chin defense forces are. (Salween Press 1/15) 278 junta troops fled to India with their weapons, and were given a ride back to the junta army by the Indian government. That makes 700 defeated junta troops that have received help from India so far. (Khit Thit Media 7/18)
The AA seized a junta camp at Yesochaung in Rathedaung Township on Jan. 15, where more than 100 junta troops surrendered. (Myanmar Now 1/15) During the Jan. 10 AA assault on 3 junta battalion camps in Minbya Township, 6 officers were killed including the commander of one of the 3 battalions. (People's Spring 1/14)
A day later, Jan. 16, another junta battalion of over 300 soldiers, officers, and family members surrendered to the AA in Pauktaw Township. (People's Spring 1/16)
Junta airstrikes have intensified in Arakan State in the wake of its string of camp losses, and at least 10 civilians have been killed by the bombing, which is not aimed at military targets. (Khit Thit Media 1/18)
Chin--------------------
After a 5-day battle, Chin defense forces captured a junta camp at a key road junction that links Titain, Falam, and Kalay town in Sagaing Region on Jan. 16. Almost all of the 30 or so junta troops in the camp died, as shown in numerous photos. Eight Chin soldiers died and others were wounded in part due to junta airstrikes. (The Chin Post 1/16) The Chin soldiers were then given a victory reception by the local population. (People's Spring 1/17) The Thaing Ngin camp is one of the gateways into Chin State from Burma.
Karenni-------------------
As Karenni defense forces have liberated most of Pekhon town, junta troops fired machine guns from shore positions at rescue boats evacuating civilians from the fighting on Mobye Lake.
Kachin-------------------
The Kachin army, ABDSF, and a local PDF captured a junta camp at a hydroelectric dam in Momeik Township of northern Shan State on Jan. 11. Seven junta troops were killed. (Khit Thit Media 1/13) Then on Jan. 18 the same Kachin-led forces attacked the junta police barracks in Momeik town, and the entire garrison surrendered. (Shwe Phee Myay 1/18)
On Jan. 15 the Kachin captured almost the last junta position in Nampatga near Kutkai. One more is left. Kutkai is occupied by the Ta’ang army. (The 74 Media 1/15)
Jets then bombed Nampatka, and the Kachin army shot one of them down on Jan. 16. Both pilots were killed. The jet was a Chinese-made FTC2000G, and the weapon used to kill it was a Chinese-made FN-6 shoulder-fired missile. (Karen Information Center 1/16, Khit Thit Media 1/17) This is the 3rd jet shot down; the first two were downed by Karenni defense forces in 2023.
On Jan. 19 the Kachin army captured another camp, in Mansi Township of far southern Kachin State. More than 20 junta troops were captured alive. The Kachin army also attacked 4 junta camps in Shweku Township in the southwest of Kachin State on the same day, Jan. 19. (Kachin News Group 1/19)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
PDFs in Otpo Township of Bago Region fired grenades and rifles at junta troops who were kidnapping villagers to forcibly place and train them in a pro-junta local militia on Jan. 13. The PDFs were able to rescue at least 30 villagers, but 2 others were killed by the junta troops. The troops then burned Sindeh Kone village. (Khit Thit Media 1/14)
In Myinchan Township of Mandalay Region, PDFs fired on 2 trucks carrying 30 junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee terrorists on Jan. 17, killing 10 of them and destroying a truck.
Drone bombs dropped by PDFs killed at least 10 junta troops at a police barracks in Nyaung Phyu Pin, in Monya Township of Sagaing Region, over 3 days Jan. 12-14. (Khit Thit Media 1/17)
Urban warfare------------------
Twin bombs exploded in front of Insein Prison’s interrogation (torture) unit on Jan. 16. Casualties aren’t specified, but ambulances were called. Urban guerrilla groups were responsible. (Mizzima 1/16) Another bomb caused damage at the Sittwe airport in Arakan State on Jan. 16; no one claimed responsibility. (Mizzima 1/16) A junta administrator in Hlaing Township of Yangon who threatened youths was killed on Jan. 19. (People's Spring 1/19)
Urban guerrillas in Mandalay killed 3 junta troops during a shooting attack on troops extorting money from motorists on Jan. 16. A PDF member was also killed. (DVB D 1/19)
Junta decline------------------
The junta’s shrinkage has led it to kidnap teenagers at gunpoint in Bago Region, and coerce them into pro-junta local militias, in anticipation of Karen-led forces attacking closer toward Naypyitaw. (Khit Thit Media 1/15) Troops are also extorting around US$100 per household to pay for the militias, and threatening that if villages don’t contribute 20 youths for forced recruitment, they will burn down the villages. Even regime sympathizers are refusing to send their family members. (Myaelatt Athan, Karen Information Center 1/14) Junta troops already burned Taungkamauk village in Paungde Township on Jan. 14 because it would not contribute recruits. (Khit Thit Media 1/15)
The incredible shrinking junta pulled out of another base voluntarily, in Rathedaung Township of Arakan State. Navy ships evacuated all the soldiers from the base 15 km from Rathedaung town on Jan. 15 and took them to Saungkat base. (Western News 1/16)
Terrorism--------------------
Junta bombing in Arakan State on Jan. 12 killed 11 civilians and injured 6. The terrorist attacks took place in Kyauktaw, Myauk Oo, Maungdaw, and Minbya Townships. Children, women, and old people made up most of the victims. (Khit Thit Media 1/13)
Further bombing targeted civilian districts in Minbya town in Arakan with 500 pound bombs on Jan. 16, destroying homes and touching off an emergency exodus of refugees. The bombing was not preceded by any battle, it was a terrorist raid. (People's Spring 1/16)
Political and economic-------------------
Pro-junta extreme nationalist monks protested and demanded that dictator Min Aung Hlaing resign in favor of deputy dictator Soe Win. (Khit Thit Media 1/20)
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