Burma coup resistance notes March 18, 2023
Junta massacres civilians in Shan State; junta offensives suffer devastating defeats by Karenni and Karen forces; China working to split the north off from the Revolution.
Ethnic regions-------------------
There was another major civilian massacre. Junta troops killed 33 ethnic Pa-O civilians including 3 monks in Namnaing village, Pinlaung township, southern Shan State on March 11. The victims had been sheltering in a monastery, but were forced out and shot in the streets. The killing was interpreted as a junta attempt to pit Pa-O and Karenni citizens against each other, but ethnic leaders called for unity and urged not to fall for the ploy. (Khit Thit Media and all major media outlets)
The slaughter in Pinlaung was part of a large junta offensive in the Karenni area, which has met with defeat on multiple fronts. Over 70 troops have died trying to attack the Karenni during the past week.
On March 10 a junta assault on Karenni camps in Demawso township suffered heavy casualties, and it had to call in helicopter gunships to save the survivors.
The next day, 60 junta troops tried to sneak into the Kuyin valley in Pekhon township, but were discovered and surrounded by Karenni forces; 31 were killed including the platoon commander, as were 4 Karenni soldiers, 6 junta troops were caught alive, and 15 junta guns and some ammunition were captured. (The Irrawaddy) The same day, other junta contingents attacked Karenni positions in Pinlaung and on the Thai border in Shadaw township; both failed, with junta casualties and weapons captured by the Karenni. (People's Spring, Khit Thit Media)
Five days later on March 16, the junta attacked again in Pinlaung township, but was beaten back with the loss of 20 killed and some grenades and ammunition captured by the Karenni. (Than Lwin Khet News) To the south in Bawlakhe township, Karenni forces turned back another junta attack, killing 3 troops. Meanwhile in Demawso township, the junta tried to bring supplies to stranded troops via helicopter, but fire from Karenni defenders drove the copter away without landing. (People's Spring)
In Chin State, the junta is trying to send in another of its giant convoys of supplies and reinforcements. In the past these convoys have taken weeks to reach their destinations through a constant gantlet of Chin roadside bombs and ambushes. This time looks like no exception. Eighty trucks, 2 armored vehicles, and 500 troops left Kyauktu in Magway Region on March 12, headed toward Mindat. Before they even reached Chin State, Saw township PDFs blew up 2 of the vehicles and killed 20 troops. The junta is using stolen civilian trucks this time; the supply of army trucks may be running low. (Than Lwin Khet News)
Also in Chin State, another supply convoy was bombed by Chin defense forces in Matupi township March 14 on the way toward the Htebwe camp in Paletwa township. Ten troops were killed. (Khit Thit Media)
In Kawthoolei, the Karen army attacked a column of 200 junta troops near Noh Ta Kaw town (Kyainseikgyi on Burmese maps) on March 15. The Karen Lion Battalion Special Commando Force slaughtered more than 40 of the invaders, whose bodies were found in the Zami River after the battle. More than 30 others were wounded, the rest fled. Two drone PDFs participated. The Karen army is now securing the area for public safety.
Palaw PDFs in Kawthoolei’s Beit-Tavoy District (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps) attacked the same junta column twice on March 12, as it was going out and then coming back; 10 troops were killed including an officer, and the PDFs captured 4 guns. (People's Spring) On March 16 another PDF in Ye Phyu township burned the junta immigration office, which is involved in census data gathering for surveillance and the fake election, now postponed until 2024. All the records in the office were destroyed. (Than Lwin Times) Further north in Mutraw District (Hpapun township on Burmese maps), Karen army Brigade 5 announced that in the 4 days March 8-11 it killed 6 junta troops and wounded 1 in various small clashes. Mutraw News)
In Shan State, the Kokang ethnic army (MNDAA) was back in action on March 12, after a hiatus of several months, battling junta troops, but no details were available. (People's Spring)
After a Beijing diplomat visited several northern ethnic armies in February, a grouping of seven northern ethnic armies called the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) issued a pro-Chinese, pro-junta, anti-Revolution statement on March 16, endorsing Chinese mediation in the Burma civil war. The FPNCC includes the northern Shan SSPP militia, the Wa army (UWSA), the Ta’ang army (TNLA), Kokang (MNDAA), Kachin, and the Arakan army. Some of these have previously made statements supporting the fight for federal democracy, but endorsing Chinese interference contradicts that, since Beijing supports the junta.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region there was good and bad news. PDFs in Indaw township in the north bombed a convoy of 44 vehicles, destroying two and killing 10 troops on March 12. (Myaelatt Athan) Another PDF fired 50 locally-manufactured mortars into the junta’s northwest military command headquarters in Monywa city on March 15, killing 6 troops there and wounding an unknown number. (People's Spring) On the other hand, junta troops raided two PDF camps on March 15. In Myaung township they shot four PDF members, one of whom died; many artisanal guns were captured. In Monywa township another raid caught 13 PDF soldiers, who are likely to be killed; only 2 escaped. Troops burned three elderly people alive in a village because they could not escape. (Chindwin News Agency)
In Mandalay Region, a PDF in Mattaya township bombed a junta convoy as it left the town on March 11, then again as it returned the next day; a total of 17 troops were killed. (Myaelatt Athan) Also, another PDF drone-bombed a junta military vehicle factory at Kokkeh in Myinchan township on March 11.
Over 60 junta troops were killed in a number of small attacks and clashes in central Burma during the past week.
A PDF in an unnamed location demonstrated a locally-developed six-wheeled warbot or land drone that can be driven remotely and fires an M-16 rifle with accuracy, it says. (Ayeyarwaddy Times)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
This has not gone away. Junta terrorist gangs are still looting and burning villages in Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay Regions, driving the people out to live as refugees in the bush, and killing those too old or sick to escape.
Political and economic-------------------
In the American capital Washington DC, a USA diplomatic team including Asia specialist Derek Chollet visited the Burma National Unity Government embassy on March 13 to discuss how the Americans can support the Spring Revolution. (People's Spring)
-စီၤ ထံဆၢ
Thank you so much for this excellent reporting! It helps greatly to spread awareness.