Burma coup resistance notes June 17, 2023
Resistance cuts junta supply lines; Karenni make major advance; Sagaing raid hits a junta nerve and provokes a severe response.
Ethnic regions-------------------
On June 13 Karenni forces attacked and captured the junta police barracks in Mese town and three junta border camps on the same day. Witnesses report multiple junta casualties including the police camp commander killed, but numbers aren’t known. The Karenni captured 42 or more large and small weapons, including two 120mm mortars. Jets then bombed Mese town and helicopters flew over but didn’t fire. There is one remaining junta camp in Mese Township, and Karenni forces have it in their sights. (Khit Thit Media 6/13, The Irrawaddy 6/14)
The latest junta attack on Mobye town in Karenni area continued into its 2nd week with rape and massacre of civilians. Troops raped two women and killed them and their father, three children, and 22 other people June 8-10, some through mortar and jet bombing of residential areas. (Khit Thit Media 6/9) The Karenni defense forces report that 27 were killed in Pekhone June 1-13; some were killed by their own artillery fire. Ten more were killed in fighting on June 16. Two Karenni soldiers were also killed and 4 wounded. A number of weapons and some ammunition have been captured by the Karenni. (Chindwin News Agency 6/12, People’s Spring 6/15, Kantarawaddy Times 6/17). Jets bombed a refugee camp east of Mobye. (Mizzima 6/15)
Karenni political leaders have created a new interim government, the Karenni State Interim Executive Council. It is oriented toward building Karenni governance within the context of Myanmar federal democracy, as well as equipping Karenni defense forces while the war still lasts. (Ayeyarwaddy Times 6/13)
In Chin State, the battle along the Hakha-Htantalan road continued into its third week. Three hundred junta troops in two columns are trying to reach the Chin-held town of Htantalan, but have been stopped by Chin forces, with 50 killed and 20 wounded so far. On June 12 junta troops drove Chin soldiers out of a temporary camp in the Thee Mit Valley, killing 3 of them. (The Irrawaddy 6/14)
In Kawthoolei, Karen army Brigade 6 attacked a column of 50 junta troops carrying food and ammunition toward Kwi La Dter camp on the Thai border in Kaw T’Ree Township in Dooplaya District. The attack happened on June 12, killing 3 troops including a deputy battalion commander, and wounded 13 others; 5 Karen soldiers were wounded by mortar fire. After suffering losses, the junta troops fled and crossed into Thailand with their weapons; a resistance source believes they will be helped on that side by the Thai army. (Karen Information Center 6/14)
Since the Karen army and allied PDFs gained control of the main highway between Mawlamyaing and Tavoy, the junta is trying to sneak its soldiers through in civilian clothes and vehicles. The Karen army is therefore inspecting vehicles and has banned the transport of weapons and other military materials. It is warning the public not to travel in vehicles with weapons or people who may be disguised junta soldiers, in order to avoid danger from attacks on them. (Mizzima 6/11) Controlling this road cuts off the southernmost part of the country from the rest of it.
PDFs captured a junta/Pyu Saw Htee camp in Thayetchaung Township of Kawthoolei Beit-Tavoy District on June 12. Most of the terrorists fled, and the PDFs captured some communications equipment.
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Statistics published by Data for Myanmar show that junta home destruction peaked in December 2022 at over 10,500 homes per month, and has been declining since then to 3,000-4,000 per month recently. (People's Spring 6/15) It isn’t clear whether this is due to increased counter-terrorism activity by PDFs, shrinking junta troop strength, or loss of territorial control by the junta. Junta terrorism raids and village destruction still continue, however.
Troops in Tenasserim Township of Kawthoolei Beit-Tavoy District have been stealing people’s motorcycles and then ransoming them back to them for upwards of US$100. They also break into homes vacated by civilians fleeing the junta’s violence, where they steal food and then sell it to local shops, where people have to buy it back. (Tanintharyi Times 6/12)
A viral video shows Pyu Saw Htee terrorists in Magway Region throwing motorcycles into a river in a village where they drove out the local population in order to destroy it. (Chindwin News Agency 6/12) The terrorists often burn motorcycles and cars along with homes and shops, but this video graphically shows how the junta gratuitously destroys civilian property and livelihoods for no other motive than to cause hardship.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
Eighteen PDFs in Salingyi Township of Sagaing Region attacked and destroyed the junta police barracks at Nyaungpinji on June 9, directly across the Chindwin River from the junta’s northwest military command HQ in Monywa. The junta had been using the camp as a base to attack surrounding villages. The PDFs killed at least 12 junta troops/police in the raid, rescued civilians kidnapped by the rogue police, captured 7 weapons and some grenades & ammunition, and destroyed the camp. The camp was under-manned at the time because the junta had needed to shift its dwindling troops elsewhere. In response to this raid, the junta attacked nearby civilian villages with jets, helicopters, mortars, and troops, burning homes and injuring residents. Judging by the vehemence of the response, the raid was perceived by the junta as a serious and threatening blow. A PDF soldier was killed in the raid. (Than Lwin Khet News, The Irrawaddy 6/10) Now the junta is building a new camp at Nyaungpinji. (Khit Thit Media 6/16)
Meanwhile in Indaw Township of Sagaing Region, PDFs destroyed another police barracks at Meza on June 11, capturing weapons. Forty troops were estimated to be in the barracks, but casualty figures aren’t given. Afterward, 30 troops arrived in Indaw town, 16 km away, led by two women officers; they may have been the survivors. (Mizzima 6/12)
Similarly, a report emerged of a June 6 PDF attack on a junta police barracks Myinmu Township, in which 9 troops were killed including the commander, and 5 wounded. The PDFs destroyed the bunkers in the camp. Helicopter gunships then arrived and began shooting, but the PDFs were unharmed. (People’s Spring 6/10)
A small group of PDF leaders went into downtown Sataung in Sagaing Township, fully armed, to greet the people. They say the response was positive. The next day a column of 130 junta troops invaded Thazin village and was counter-attacked by a PDF force of 30 specialized commandos for three days starting June 13. During the battle, the PDFs say 30 junta troops were killed, and the survivors retreated to Sataung town after burning 700 homes in Thazin and Pauk Ma villages and kidnapping 40 civilians. (Mizzima, Myanmar Now 6/15, The Irrawaddy 6/16)
PDFs in Kalay Township of Sagaing Region intercepted a junta food supply convoy of 3 vehicles and 130 troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia on June 16. Two of the trucks were burned and a large amount of weapons and ammunition were captured. Junta casualties were high but no number is available. (Mizzima 6/17)
A month after PDFs attacked a police barracks and killed 12 troops at Thayetdaw in Salin Township, Magway Region, the junta withdrew from that location and removed the police sign, leaving it abandoned. The troops were redeployed to the township capital. (Khit Thit Media 6/12) As the junta army shrinks, so does its footprint.
Other PDFs blew up a convoy of 50 junta troops trying to leave Shwebo town in Sagaing Region on June 10, in a series of 5 explosions. They say they killed 15 troops, and the convoy retreated in disarray. (Mizzima 6/12)
PDFs captured a Pyu Saw Htee terrorist camp in Minkin Township on June 8, killing 3 of the terrorists and capturing 4 alive, along with several low-tech weapons they had. The rest fled. Of the four captured, three were in their 50s and 60s. (Khit Thit Media 6/12) Again, the paramilitary Pyu Saw Htees specialize in destroying civilian villages, and are not trained or equipped to fight military battles.
A day later, other PDFs attacked two Pyu Saw Htee camps in Kantbalu Township, killing 11 of the terrorists including a leader. One PDF soldier died, and they captured some weapons. The next day the Pyu Saw Htees raided and burned two nearby villages in retaliation. The Pyu Saw Htees in Kantbalu are under the influence of an extreme nationalist monk and have been especially vicious toward local villagers. (The Irrawaddy 6/12)
PDFs in Tamu Township in Sagaing Region on the Indian border stormed a junta camp at Patha on June 15, capturing a junta soldier and some weapons. The junta then followed up with jet bombing. Elsewhere in Tamu Township PDFs blew up and killed 4 Pyu Saw Htee terrorists. (Khit Thit Media 6/15)
A deadly dispute broke out between two PDFs in Myaung Township of Sagaing Region. In March, the Zamani group which is not under NUG command allegedly killed a member of the PSF group which is loyal to the NUG. Then on June 1 the PSF killed 3 Zamani members including its leader and wounded another, allegedly during an exchange of gunfire when the PSF tried to arrest the Zamani members. The NUG is promising an investigation. (The Irrawaddy 6/16) Most PDFs are loyal to the NUG. The Sagaing Forum was established recently to provide coordination to avoid incidents of PDF disputes and keep energy focused on defeating the illegal military regime.
A PDF planted a fake landmine as bait in Myinchan Township of Mandalay Region on June 15. When a junta demining team came to remove it, a real bomb exploded nearby, killing 4 of them and wounding others. Troops then shot their guns in all directions during the night. (Myaelatt Athan 6/16) Junta demining teams are often blown up while trying to remove roadside bombs.
Junta decline-----------------
As reserve troops all got deployed to the front lines, the junta drafted their wives and trained them as soldiers. An army wife in Htantabin, Taw Oo District of Kawthoolei (east Bago on Burmese maps) was firing mortars into civilian residential areas on June 8 when an explosion occurred, killing her and an officer and wounding about 40 other soldiers, including many women.
A junta helicopter gunship crashed near Naypyitaw on June 15 during a training flight, killing the pilot and a trainee. The cause of the crash isn’t reported. (Tanintharyi Times 6/15)
Urban warfare------------------
The junta is under attack in its most important bastions.
PDFs attacked a police station and junta guards at a cement factory on the east side of the military capital Naypyitaw on June 13, killing an officer and wounding 3 others. (Mizzima 6/13) On the same day, a grenade exploded at the junta’s large convention center, wounding three guards.
On June 12 a coalition of the Karen army, Karenni defense forces, and local PDFs raided a junta camp in Pyinmanah Township of Naypyitaw Region, capturing a quantity of weapons and ammunition when they overran the camp. Five junta troops were killed. (Khit Thit Media 6/13) The Karen and Karenni forces ventured outside their home territory for the raid close to the junta’s headquarters.
PDFs raided a police barracks in Monywa city, capital of Sagaing Region and home of the junta’s northwest command HQ, on June 16, killing 3 police. The junta then fired mortars into the city and amassed reinforcements. (Myaelatt Athan 6/17)
Political and economic-------------------
The junta is now stopping trucks full of humanitarian assistance for Cyclone Mocha victims from traveling to storm-affected areas. They stopped 2 trucks traveling from Yangon to Arakan State and kidnapped the drivers. (Than Lwin Khet News 6/10) The junta received millions of dollars worth of aid for storm victims, but is apparently using it all for itself.
Junta prison guards have increased the torture of political prisoners since ten such prisoners broke out of a jail in Taungoo. Guards blindfold and handcuff prisoners, then beat them, knocking out teeth and causing cuts. Then they are thrown into solitary confinement with no medical treatment for their injuries, and food and other supplies from families are not allowed through. (The Irrawaddy 6/13)
After losing the May 14 election, the outgoing Thailand military government is using its last days in power to further interfere in the Burma civil war on behalf of the illegal Naypyitaw junta. It has invited the junta’s so-called “foreign minister” to a meeting June 18-19 in Bangkok along with India, which also supports the fascist coup in Burma. The Thai military wants ASEAN to invite the Naypyitaw junta back into the organization. ASEAN’s chairman Indonesia is against this meeting. (Ayeyarwaddy Times 6/17)
The Kachin government (KIO) will not allow junta-operated schools to reopen in Kachin-controlled territory. (Kachin News Group 6/17)
Spring Revolution leaders Gen. Gun Maw, U Min Ko Naing, and U Li Mon published an article through the United States Institute of Peace called “Like Ukraine, Myanmar Deserves International Aid”, in which they said that if the Burma democratic forces received even 1% of the aid that Ukraine gets, they could win the civil war months. (People's Spring 6/14)
-စီၤ ထံဆၢ