Burma coup resistance notes July 31, 2022
"Although we appreciate the declarations condemning the execution of our predecessors who tried for democracy, if there is no practical action, these declarations will be nothing more than foolish words...The United Nations Security Council needs to quickly implement the Responsibility to Protect by sending troops and weapons to the ethnic and democratic forces that are fighting together in unity." - National Unity Government Foreign Minister Daw Zin Ma Aung, in a speech to the UN Security Council in New York yesterday.
Millions of Burma citizens participated today in a national Public Oath ceremony of support for the Spring Revolution. There were both on-line activities and in-person marches and meetings around the country. Most of today's news stories were about this. It also commemorated the fallen martyrs. Ceremonies were also held abroad in Washington DC, Seoul, Tokyo, Manila, and other cities.
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Chin State, Chin defense forces yesterday attacked a junta convoy trying to bring construction materials to repair a bridge blown up by the Chin forces earlier this year on the Htantalan road. They killed 5 junta troops and wounded 6, out of a total of 40. The materials were sent from Hpalam toward Hakha on July 8, but took many days to get through the continuous Chin defense actions. (Mizzima) All told, it will take about a month for the materials to reach the bridge site, and the reconstruction work will have to be done under constant sniper fire. When the bridge is finally repaired, the Chin could sabotage it again. Since it was blown up, the junta cannot send reinforcements or supplies to Htantalan from Hakha.
In Karenni State, junta invasion troops are moving along the 20 kilometer road from Loikaw to Demawso, to try to control it, after trying and failing to control Mobye town to the north. There is heavy fighting in Demawso today. Karenni defense forces say the junta has strengthened its bunkers at its Demawso camp and stocked them with ammunition. Meanwhile, Karenni soldiers attacked a junta outpost today in Hpruso township, killing 3 troops. (People's Spring) The junta keeps re-fighting its battles in northern Karenni region but has gained no more control than it had early on, while the Karenni forces show no sign of weakening, and keep attacking the junta in its rear positions.
In Kawthoolei (Karen nation) Mutraw District (Hpapun township on Burmese maps), the Karen army fired on a pro-junta BGF militia vehicle yesterday north of Kamamaung, killing 3 BGF and wounding 2. (Mutraw News via Khit Thit Media) In Kawthoolei Dooplaya District (Myawaddy township on Burmese maps), a photo from the Karen Venom battalion shows 3 dead comrades from the latest battle on the Myawaddy-Waw Lay road.
In Mon State, the active Mon ethnic army (MSRO) fired grenades yesterday at two junta targets, a checkpoint at the town entrance and a military camp at Ayutaung village; casualties aren't known. (People's Spring)
Junta scorched earth village terroriandsm campaign---------------
After a PDF attack on July 28 killed 5 troops in East Bonkan village of Pakokku township, Magway Region, the junta is getting ready to burn the village to the ground. Residents have fled. (People's Spring)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, the Kachin army and allied PDF attacked a column of 70 junta troops yesterday on the road between Indaw and Banmauk using landmines. Five were killed and at least 10 wounded. Troops then fired mortars into a nearby village. In Myinmu township, a PDF bombed a junta supply camp yesterday, killing 5 troops. (Khit Thit Media)
A junta 5-vehicle convoy was attacked 3 times by Kalay PDFs on the road from Kalay toward Tamu yesterday. The first explosion caused damage but no casualties, and the troops stopped to shoot their guns. After the convoy continued it was blown up again, this time killing 10 troops and damaging 3 vehicles. Other vehicles were called from Kalay to remove the dead bodies and damaged vehicles, during which they were blown up for a 3rd time and 5 more troops died and others were wounded. Troops then abducted some random civilians nearby. (Khit Thit Media)
In Shwebo town a drone video from July 25 shows a PDF drone-bombing a junta checkpoint at the university entrance; an explosion occurs right next to a vehicle. The PDF says 3 troops were killed and their bodies were carried inside. Another drone-bombing the same day killed 6 other troops, according to the PDF. (Khit Thit Media)
In Chaung Oo township, the local PDF is warning that pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee thugs who have been chased out of their communities are trying to settle in other communities disguised as civilians. The PDF cautions citizens not to take summary justice on strangers, but to submit suspicions to the PDF for investigation. Strangers who are found to be Pyu Saw Htee can then be arrested and brought to justice. Two villages in Chaung Oo township are actually Pyu Saw Htee camps. (People's Spring)
In Tantse township a local PDF used a remote-control mine to blow up a junta/Pyu Saw Htee patrol last night, killing three operatives. (People's Spring)
Junta troops abducted a professional photographer from his home in Sagaing yesterday, then dumped his dead body on a road. Social welfare workers found it and took it to the hospital and then to his family. The reason for the murder isn't known. (People's Spring)
In Magway Region, 2 PDF soldiers were killed in a junta ambush today in Myaing township, and an automatic rifle was lost. (Than Lwin Khet News)
In Mandalay Region, four junta vehicles leaving Mandalay city were hit by 5 roadside bombs on the road in Myinchan township yesterday; 10 troops were killed, of which 3 were officers. The attack was made possible by advance information about the traveling party, possibly from a watermelon (Revolution sympathizer within the junta army). (Myaelatt Athan)
In Bago Region, a local PDF ambushed 80 junta troops entering the mountains west of Taungoo on July 28, killing 4 of them and wounding 10, including an officer. The enemy then retreated in haste, leaving behind used bandages and some weapon-related equipment. (People's Spring)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, a bomb killed 2 men in a house in Thingangyun township today; their identities aren't known yet. A bomb exploded in front of a junta-owned textile factory in Hlaing township last night; some junta guards were apparently injured. Other explosions occurred in Ahlone, Insein, Hlaingthaya, and North Dagon townships. Failed bombs were found in Sanchaung, Hlaingthaya, and Kyauktan townships. (Khit Thit Media)
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
All the staff of the junta-owned Putolan power plant in Kyaw, Magway Region mysteriously disappeared 4 days ago, causing the plant to shut down. Some managers of the plant had been embezzling and selling fuel on the side, while PDFs had issued threats for staff to stop collaborating with the junta by working there. There was historically a lot of corruption in the plant's tender processes, and the managers reportedly paid bribes to company directors in the military capital Naypyitaw to tolerate the fuel embezzling. (Khit Thit Media)
In a related matter, a Denko corporation fuel tanker truck was detained in Sagaing Region Shwebo township by a local PDF on the charge of supporting the junta economically. The driver was arrested. Denko Oil Co. is owned by a person close to the illegal regime, and it pays taxes that prop up the regime. There is no word on the current whereabouts of the truck and the driver. (People's Spring)
People, particularly young women, who show solidarity with the resistance movement by doing things like showing a black profile picture after the hanging murders or signing up for the national Public Oath to the Revolution, are being kidnapped by local junta officials in Tharawaddy, Bago Region, and held for ransoms of up to 1 million kyats (US$350). Also in Tharawaddy, a dalan (junta informant) was assassinated today. (Myaelatt Athan)
The junta's war on its own population is directly affecting the price of food in cities. The destruction of farming villages in Sagaing and Magway Regions has meant that thousands of paddy farmers did not plant rice this year. The resulting drop in rice production is driving up wholesale and retail prices in Yangon and other urban centers, according to the Myanmar Rice Traders Association. (Than Lwin Khet News)
The Indian government denied a permit for expatriate Burmese citizens to protest the murder by hanging of 4 pro-democracy martyrs, and arrested 20 people who protested anyway. Indian companies are selling weapons components to the illegal regime in Burma, and the Indian government has been much friendlier to the junta than to the National Unity Government, which it has snubbed so far.
Malaysia, on the other hand, has been the Burma people's greatest regional ally, working to deny ASEAN acceptance of the Burmese junta's planned sham elections in 2023, and denying junta participation in ASEAN summit meetings. He even participated in the on-line Public Oath ceremony in which millions of Burma citizens pledged their support to the Spring Revolution. (People's Spring)