Burma coup resistance notes July 26, 2022
Outrage erupted across Burma & around the world at the murder by hanging of the 4 democracy activists by the illegal military regime. Numerous embassies, the UN, and ethnic governments called the murders a “terrorist act,” and angry street protests took place in Tokyo, Bangkok, New York, London, and other world cities. Crowds in liberated areas of Burma expressed their shock, grief, fury, and determination to bring the terrorist junta to justice.
Still, the international community has only come up with more Strongly Worded Statements (SWS's), but nothing to stop the carnage, such as military assistance to the National Unity Government and the armed resistance.
And it's not slowing down – another elected leader, Ko Hla Htoo, was kidnapped Saturday night in Yangon and tortured to death on Sunday. The junta then burned his body to destroy the evidence of torture. This all happened after the quadruple hanging. Over 700 members of the majority NLD party have been kidnapped and their condition is unknown. (The Irrawaddy) The junta is trying to systematically eliminate the party that crushed it in the 2020 elections.
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Karenni region, 300 junta troops who re-invaded Mobye town yesterday in Pekhon township (southern Shan State on Burmese maps) were met by Karenni defense forces, who killed 15 of them by bombing their vehicles and planting minefields. After stepping on mines, the troops retreated, but fired mortars at civilians sheltering in a monastery, killing a woman and injuring a man. (Khit Thit Media, Myaelatt Athan) In Saung Nan Keh village near Pekhon, 8 junta troops were wounded in fighting yesterday. (People's Spring)
In Kachin region, the Kachin army fought junta troops all day yesterday in Kutkai township (northern Shan State on Burmese maps). The clash took place around the base of Loi Samsit mountain. Shrapnel from a junta mortar shell struck a mother crouching with her 3-year-old child; she was injured and the child was killed. (People's Spring)
The junta seems determined to open another front in its many-sided war, against the northern Shan SSPP army. It recently ordered the SSPP to remove 3 of its camps; the SSPP refused and instead mobilized all of its fighters to resist. Now the junta has shipped in at least 10 truckloads of troops to the area to attack the 3 camps. (People's Spring)
In Kawthoolei (Karen nation) Doo Tha Htoo District (Kyaikto township on Burmese maps), the Karen army and allied PDF blew up 2 junta trucks as they were heading out of Kawthoolei toward Bago region today; casualties aren't known yet. (Khit Thit Media)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
In Ye Oo township of Sagaing Region, 4 carloads of junta troops invaded Hnaw Kone village yesterday; a local PDF fought them for about an hour, but then the troops burned down the village. The PDF says it killed “7 or 8” of the troops. (Mizzima) A PDF fighter was injured and captured on July 23 in Maung Kyauk Taw village of Khin Oo township while trying to defend the community against a terror attack; the terrorist troops then burned him alive. (Mizzima)
Junta shore troops trying to guard the supply flotilla on the Chindwin River burned Unnebote, West Taw, and Bayshebin villages in Minkin township of Sagaing Region.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In yesterday's multi-PDF assault on the 13-boat junta supply flotilla ascending the Chindwin River, 10 junta troops on board the boats were killed yesterday including an officer. PDF snipers took aim at the slow-moving flotilla from the banks in Minkin township. Two PDF fighters were also seriously wounded.
In Sagaing Region, Kalay town was rocked by a series of bombings overnight; a statement says it was in response to the junta's murder by hanging of 4 elected leaders who fought for democracy on Saturday. (Khit Thit Media)
In Paungpyin township, a major battle took place yesterday in Mine Chaung village, with casualties on both sides. A dalan guided the junta troops through a PDF minefield, but then fighting erupted; about 20 junta troops were killed, and 8 PDF fighters were also killed and 2 seriously wounded. This is the 2nd major engagement in Paungpyin township in the past 2 weeks. (Mizzima)
In Khin Oo township, junta troops invaded Manji Ote village today, shooting at civilians. They shot a 13-year-old boy off the back of his father's motorcycle; the father appealed for help to the PDF. Five PDF members including a captain went to rescue the wounded boy from the road under enemy fire, and a PDF captain was shot. The other 4 PDF members successfully rescued the boy, but the captain bled to death. The boy has gunshot wounds in his chest and arm. (Myaelatt Athan)
In Myinmu township, 20 junta troops left Myinmu town yesterday morning to find and clear landmines and roadside bombs. When they found a mine, they gathered to remove it, at which point they were blown up by another explosion and were fired on by a PDF ambush; 15 died.
A convoy of 24 vehicles leaving Monywa town was hit by 3 roadside bombs and 2 Mytel missiles (fired from cannons made from sabotaged Mytel mobile communications towers) in Chaung Oo township yesterday; 2 vehicles had their wheels blown but casualties aren't known. Also yesterday, a 12-vehicle convoy leaving Sagaing township was hit by 3 bombs, killing 10 troops. (Khit Thit Media)
In Magway Region, PDFs in Pauk township fired on a junta/Pyu Saw Htee camp at Dap Kone village today, killing 7 troops and capturing some ammunition, 21 mobile phones, and at least 7 motorbikes (some of this property may have been looted by the Pyu Saw Htee from villages they destroyed). A Seikphyu township PDF fired grenades into a police barracks in Yenanchaung township yesterday, responding to the junta's hanging of the 4 pro-democracy activists. (Myaelatt Athan)
In Mandalay Region, a PDF fired a bomb into a junta army camp in Amarapura township last night, killing 2 junta troops; the PDF says it is in retaliation for the hanging of the 4 pro-democracy activists on Saturday. (Khit Thit Media) A local junta administrator was assassinated in Mahlaing township this morning. (People's Spring) Junta troops spent 2 days looting and destroying Tawway village in Nwatogyi township, burning down the houses in the end. This type of village terror attack is usually reserved for Sagaing and Magway Regions. (Khit Thit Media)
In Bago Region, junta troops who were attacking Karen Sinsaw village of Nattalin township were blown up by a bomb yesterday; 3 were killed and 2 wounded, including an officer. (People's Spring)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, an urban PDF opened fire on the guards at the entrance to Insein Prison yesterday, where the 4 pro-democracy activists were hanged on Saturday; casualties aren't known. A dalan was assassinated in Twante township today.
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
All over the country, in rural and urban areas, junta troops and police have been building checkpoints where they stop travelers and extort money at gunpoint. Junta soldiers who have defected say they only receive partial salaries and the food rations aren't enough. As the regime runs out of money, it is increasingly parasitic on the public.