Burma coup resistance notes June 29, 2024
Operation 10/27 opens its Second Wave as the Ta’ang romp over the junta in Shan & Mandalay; the Arakan capture the resistance’s first airport; aid industry still colluding with the regime.
Northern Shan-------------------
Open warfare has broken out again between the junta and the ethnic armies in northern Shan State. The junta attacked the Ta’ang on June 22 in Mogok, a Mandalay Region township surrounded by Shan State, and an exchange of fire took place. (People's Spring 6/22) The following day Kokang forces (MNDAA) clashed with the junta near Lashio city, (Myanmar Now 6/24)
The Ta’ang army (TNLA) captured all junta positions in Naungcho town on June 25, and 2 days later it seized 3 junta battalion camps in the township. Ten dead junta troops were found and weapons were captured. A small ethnic Danu militia participated in the victory. The junta then began bombing the town. (People's Spring 6/25, 6/26, Khit Thit Media 6/27) Naungcho is in Shan State on the border with Mandalay Region, 125 km from Mandalay. The Ta’ang captured a major junta base in Naungcho Township in December 2023, and the junta had attempted to retake it several times, in vain.
Likewise in Chaukme town, the TNLA captured the police barracks and a junta artillery battalion, and are working on the remaining junta positions. Seventeen junta troops surrendered with their weapons, while dead junta troops were left lying where they fell and had to be cremated by locals. (People's Spring 6/25, Mizzima 6/26)
Four PDF battalions of the Mogok Strategic Force fighting alongside the TNLA have entered the western side of Mogok town, where they have surrounded and are attacking the police barracks. Jets are bombing temples and homes, and junta soldiers are fleeing the city in civilian clothes. (People's Spring 6/28, Khit Thit Media 6/29)
The TNLA and Mandalay PDF attacked and captured a junta air force compound and 2 other positions in Maddaya Township north of Mandalay city on June 25. (Than Lwin Khet News 6/25) In doing this, the TNLA is operating far beyond the Ta’ang homeland in northern Shan State, as Maddaya Township is only about 15 km north of Burma’s second city, Mandalay. It indicates the Ta’ang leadership’s intention not only to liberate its homeland, but to eradicate the illegal Naypyitaw junta.
In all, the TNLA has captured 28 junta camps since June 25, along with over 500 weapons. It says junta bombing killed 14 civilians. These battles mean that the January Beijing-brokered ceasefire is definitively over. Junta propaganda is blaming China. The re-opening of hostilities is being called the ‘Operation 10/27 Second Wave.’ Why the regime chose to re-ignite the fight with the Brotherhood Alliance at a time when it is losing battles and territory to the Kachin and Arakan isn’t clear.
In addition to the Ta’ang TNLA, the ethnic Kokang army (MNDAA) is also back in the war, attacking positions around the junta’s northeast command HQ in Lashio Township. Fighting was reported in Thibaw on June 25, northwest of Naungcho, and junta police and amin staff have left the town, and on June 29 the Kokang attacked in Lashio Township, about 20 km from the junta regional HQ. The junta destroyed 2 bridges to keep the attackers away from Lashio. (Shwe Phee Myay 6/27, People's Spring 6/29)
This is significant because the Kokang and Ta’ang homelands are already completely liberated. The fact that they continue to pursue the junta far beyond, even into Mandalay Township, indicates that they mean not only to gain their autonomy, but to eradicate the illegal military regime in Naypyitaw. That is a great help to the Kachin, Karen, Chin, and others who are still fighting to expel the junta from their territories, and to the ethnic Bamar majority trying to vanquish the regime in favor of democratic rule.
Arakan-----------------
The Arakan Army reached Thandwe town on June 21, then captured the airport on June 23. This is the airport that normally serves the Npagali Beach resort area, and lately the junta had been using it for military resupply, but no more. This is the first airport captured by an ethnic army. The AA reached Ngapali Beach and is now working on reducing 2 junta battalion camps in Thandwe town. Police and junta admin staff fled the town and went south toward Gwa Township. The junta laid landmines in the streets of Thandwe. (Ayeyarwaddy Times 6/23)
The Arakan Army stormed a key junta camp at Kazukaing in Am Township close to the junta’s western command HQ on June 23. Three months of attacks led to the fall of the camp. The AA captured many weapons and dead junta troops. The junta responded with airstrikes and artillery fire. (Khit Thit Media 6/23)
As The AA closes in on Maungdaw town on the Bangladesh border, junta troops and their ARSA lackeys looted over 1,100 tons of food supplies for refugees and destroyed a United Nations relief warehouse, before fleeing. The UN issued another of its mealy-mouthed statements condemning the attack and calling on the “warring parties” – without naming the perpetrators – not to interfere in the UN’s refugee work. (The Irrawaddy E 6/25) The fact that the food warehouse was in junta-controlled territory clearly shows the UN’s collusion with the genocidal regime, its lack of sincerity in claiming to assist refugees, and its inability to even reach most refugees, who are outside of junta-controlled territory.
Similarly, the international aid agency Doctors Without Borders has suspended its operations in Arakan State, citing the intensified conflict and restrictions by the junta on its movements. (The Irrawaddy B 6/28) Like other large aid agencies, Doctors Without Borders has been working with the junta, in areas the junta controls, obeying its rules, tolerating its atrocities, rather than serving the great majority of the conflict-affected population which is in liberated areas. That would require working across borders from neighboring countries and ignoring the junta’s commands, as some agencies have done. The junta has weaponized the assistance of these collaborationist agencies to support its campaign for control.
Kachin-------------------
The Kachin army and allied PDFs attacked and captured three junta camps in Hpakant Township on June 23, confiscating a large amount of weapons and ammunition. (People's Spring, Khit Thit Media 6/23) Four days later, junta military and police officers were holding a meeting in Hpakant Township when the meeting exploded due to a Kachin army drone bomb. Ten people died and 15 were wounded. Troops then went to a nearby monastery and seized 2 monks and 14 other civilians as hostages and human shields. (People's Spring 6/29)
The Kachin also began attacking a junta position in Indaw Township of northern Sagaing Region on June 22, finally overcoming it on June 28 after the death of 16 junta troops inside including a commander. The junta bombed the adjacent village, killing seven civilians who were sheltering in a monastery; ten more injured civilians died later for lack of access to health care. The junta sent ground reinforcements, and the fighting continued on the road leading there. Troops are holding villagers as human shields. (Mandalay Free Press 6/28)
In its greatly expanded control area, the Kachin government (KIO) is opening 223 new schools, featuring Kachin language and literature instruction. That will bring the total of Kachin schools to 448. The KIO also runs two universities. (Mizzima TV 6/28) These schools replace those formerly run by the Burmese occupation government. Similar transformation is happening in Karen, Karenni, Chin, and other liberated ethnic homelands.
Chin-------------------
Chin defense forces deny last week’s report that they lost control of 2 camps at Mt Kennedy and Thaingin. They say the fighting was continuous and they expelled junta troops from the Mt Kennedy summit again on June 22 five days after they arrived. At Thaingin, control remains contested, and the junta is not in possession. (Mizzima 6/22)
Chin forces and allied PDFs attacked a junta camp in Ngapei Township of Magway Region on June 21, attempting to capture it. They succeeded in killing 20 junta troops, but the number of troops in the camp was more than expected, and the Chin-led forces were not able to overcome them. (Khit Thit Media 6/22)
Karenni-----------------
Karenni defense forces stormed a junta camp in Bawlakhe Township on June 25 after 7 days of attacking. Troops, weapons and ammunition were captured, and the survivors retreated to their main camp in Bawlakhe town. (People's Spring 6/26)
The Karenni are still resisting the junta’s re-invasion from southern Shan State, fighting incursions in and around Loikaw and the road intersection leading toward Mobye. Another column of junta troops and their local PNO sidekicks is trying to invade Pekhon from Pinlaung, but has been halted by Karenni defenses. (Kantarawaddy Times 6/26) Like other junta counter-offensives in Kawthoolei, Kachin, and Chin State, this one is grinding to a halt without even remotely achieving its objective of retaking lost territory.
In its effort to portray normalcy in partially-controlled Loikaw, the regime is pressuring passenger buses to resume service to Taunggyi, even though Karenni forces who control the roads have not reopened them. (People's Spring 6/29) The regime has also pressured teachers and administrators to return to the city and resume their jobs, despite the fact that their homes were destroyed by junta bombing and fighting continues.
Kawthoolei-----------------
A column of 200 junta troops marched into Lei Mu Lah (Tanintharyi) Township in Beit-Tavoy District on June 19 to try to recapture their lost base at Chauklonji, which Karen forces captured on June 14. A battle ensued in which total casualties aren’t known, but at least 20 junta troops were wounded and the column had to retreat. (Tanintharyi Times 6/24)
Another border camp has fallen. When Karen forces went to attack a remote camp north of the Mawtaung border crossing to Thailand on June 27, they found it empty; junta troops had already fled. (Tanintharyi Times 6/28) More and more of the border area in Beit-Tavoy District is now under Karen control.
Because the roads leading to the Myawaddy, Htee Khee, and Mawtaung border crossings are controlled by Karen forces, the junta is attempting to build an alternative trade corridor through Kawthaung, the southernmost point of Myanmar territory in Kawthoolei’s Beit-Tavoy District. From there, goods are to be sent to Yangon by ship across the Gulf of Martaban. (People's Spring 6/28) It is only a matter of time, however, before Karen forces also take control of Kawthaung.
NOTE: You can read စီၤထံဆၢ commentary about the discussion among ethnic minorities regarding independence vs. membership in a federal union, by clicking this link: Insight Myanmar
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
PDFs in Myinchan Township of Mandalay Region report that they fought junta troops for 24 days June 2-25, and more than 40 junta troops were killed and 5 were captured, including a major. The PDFs captured a quantity of weapons and ammunition including rifles, grenades, and mortars. (Khit Thit Media 6/25)
A drone force PDF reports that it dropped more than 20 bombs on a police training school in Sagaing Township on June 25 and killed 20 junta police and wounded many others there. The dormitories were hit. Seven vehicles transported the dead and wounded to a hospital, where the death toll was confirmed. (Khit Thit Media 6/28)
On June 27 PDFs invaded Butalin town in Sagaing Region, attacking the junta admin compound, a bank, and two schools where troops were garrisoned. In 2 hours of firing, the PDFs killed at least 20 junta troops and wounded others, but didn’t overtake any positions or capture weapons. (People's Spring 6/28)
A PDF in Bago Region drone-bombed a junta checkpoint on the edge of Chauktankah town on June 25 and killed 16 junta troops there. The survivors fled, but then 5 trucks brought about 100 reinforcements and they began shelling a nearby civilian community. (Ayeyarwaddy Times 6/26)
PDFs raided a junta/Pyu Saw Htee camp in Pakokku Township on June 25. They killed 10 enemy and caught one alive, and captured a number of weapons. The victorious PDF soldiers were immediately fêted by local civilians. (Mandalay Free Press 6/25)
Junta decline------------------
The junta’s first batch of 5,000 forced recruits under the new conscription campaign is to be deployed to the field at the end of June. (Than Lwin Times 6/25) How this plays out is to be observed; the new troops are inexperienced and unwilling, so their effectiveness and their loyalty to the junta are both in question.
The junta arrested its own central region commander, who is a top general, and some other officers and retired officers for plotting a mutiny against dictator Min Aung Hlaing, according to defected CDM army officers. The mutiny was partly in response to the murder of senior Buddhist clerics by the regime, and the arrested officers are likely to be killed, according to the former army sources. (Khit Thit Media 6/27) Another general and some officers in Mandalay were arrested on June 25 for questioning regarding the murder of a senior Buddhist cleric by troops on June 19. After initially blaming PDFs for the murder, followed by a backlash from the religious community, the regime is now admitting that troops were responsible, and needs someone to pin the blame on internally. (Ayeyarwaddy Times 6/29)
When 4 junta troops were captured by a Pyin Oo Lwin PDF while traveling on the Mandalay-Mogok road on June 27, two of them turned out to be production workers from one of the junta’s weapons factories. (Mizzima 6/28) In a June 29 battle in Magway Region (Atet Min Hla Township) the fighting was done by workers from 2 weapons factories and some police. (Myaelatt Athan 6/29) This signifies that the deepening manpower crisis has led the junta to send weapons factory workers to the front lines, which in turn causes a shortage of arms and equipment.
Terrorism--------------------
More than 200 civilians who were rounded up by junta troops in Sittwe Township of Arakan State have been tortured and some have been ransomed back to their families. One ransomed abductee described constant beating and being kicked with army boots in the head and body while tied up and blindfolded, causing injuries all over his body. (Western News 6/23) In anticipation of an attack by the Arakan Army, junta troops depopulated and destroyed a dozen villages in Sittwe Township, which is surrounded by the AA. The residents are being held hostage.
During the battle of Mogok, junta troops murdered 3 ambulance workers who were taking patients to hospitals. (People's Spring 6/26)
Junta troops murdered another senior monk in Myinchan Township of Sagaing Region on June 22. U Uttama was driving an ambulance taking a patient to the hospital, when troops opened fire and shot him in the head. U Uttama was 50 years old. (Ayeyarwaddy Times 6/23)
Jets bombed a monastery in Indaw Township of Sagaing Region on June 22 and killed 14 civilians including a child and a monk, and injured 10 others. (People's Spring 6/23)
Political and economic-------------------
Thailand has doubled its weapons exports to the illegal Naypyitaw regime in the past year, to US$120 worth, according to a study published by UN Human Rights Representative Tom Andrews. Thailand has also replaced Singapore as the top banking financier of the junta’s weapons purchases, after Singapor clamped down last year. (People's Spring 6/27)
Since the murder of senior monk Ashin Munindra on June 19, much of the Buddhist religious establishment has become vocal in its criticism of the terrorist regime, and monks are leading protest marches again. At the same time, pro-junta collaborationist elite monks who recently received gifts of luxury automobiles from dictator Min Aung Hlaing have urged acceptance of the murder. (Salween Press 6/17)
The junta still insists that it will hold an election, and is going through the motions of collecting census data for it, even though it controls less than half of Burma’s people and territory. (Burma News International 6/24) It is a search for legitimacy that the illegal coup plotters can never attain.
-စီၤ ထံဆၢ