Burma coup resistance notes November 4, 2022
The junta targets a hospital, family homes, and civil protests; People's Defense Forces counter-attack Pyu Saw Htee terrorists; bombs rock Yangon; Amnesty International asks to cut off aviation fuel.
"The regime will increase airstrikes because that’s all it has now. They can no longer win on the ground, so air power is the only thing they have left. However, airstrikes are expensive. Each sortie can cost US$200,000 to $350,000 depending on the type of munition used. Given the regime’s dire financial and economic condition, a question arises as to how long it can maintain such costly attacks.” “The regime is no longer a professional military organization but has become a militant organized crime syndicate.” -Lt. col. Miemie Winn Byrd, U.S. Army (ret.), Burmese-American international security advisor. In an interview in The Irrawaddy, 11/3/2022
Another sign of the junta’s desperation is its targeting of defenseless noncombatants for no strategic purpose, such as hospitals, children, and farmers. Junta Pyu Saw Htee operatives shot at farmers harvesting their peanut crop in Myaing township yesterday, a clear act of terror; a local PDF fired back at them with locally-manufactured mortars (People's Spring)
Ethnic regions-------------------
A report from central Kawthoolei says key junta police posts have been vacant for months and nobody wants to work there. Chief positions in Kaw T’Ree (Kawkareik on Burmese maps) and Myawaddy go unfilled, and police ranks are depleted. The junta police in these towns and Pa-an have a reputation for horrible corruption – demanding bribes, arresting people for no reason and holding them for ransom, stealing property, being involved in illegal gambling, taking no action to resolve crime cases. (Karen Information Center)
Also in Kawthoolei, fighting erupted last night in the heavily-militarized, junta-occupied Karen State capital Pa-an. An explosion occurred near one of the many army bases that occupy large swaths of the town, and an unknown group opened fire. Details of damage and people involved are still not known. (Karen Information Center) Revolutionary activity has been rare in Karen Brigade 7 area, and in Pa-an city in particular.
Also in Pa-an township, a rural hospital in Palantaung had to be evacuated urgently after junta troops fired large 120mm mortar shells at it. They missed, but it posed enough of a danger that all medical staff and patients had to move quickly. This same hospital was vandalized and looted by junta-proxy BGF goons last year. (Karen Information Center) Targeting hospitals and schools is an international war crime, but it is standard practice for the Burma terrorist regime.
In northern Shan State, fighting continued yesterday between the Kokang ethnic army (MNDAA) and junta troops near Lashio city. Two junta troops were killed and 6 wounded, while 1 Kokang soldier was killed. (Khit Thit Media)
In Kachin State, a junta commander ordered troops to use mortars against civilian protesters in Hpakant, the same township where a jet bombing killed over 80 people at a music concert on Oct. 23. (Mizzima) These also qualify as terrorist acts.
In Karenni State, junta troops again fired mortars into civilian communities of Loikaw township, hitting a home and wounding 4 family members, including a woman with a serious head wound and a toddler also with a head injury. (Than Lwin Khet News) Troops have been injuring and killing children and adults for several weeks in this area with mortar fire targeting civilian communities and refugee camps.
In Arakan State, the Arakan Army fired on 2 junta boats steaming up the Kalantan River in Kyauktaw township today. The boats responded by firing into civilian communities on the banks, killing killed an 8-year-old boy and wounding 7 other civilians. The AA says there were casualties aboard the boats, but no number is given. (Khit Thit Media)
In Mon State, a junta vehicle ran over and killed a monk this morning, then drove off without stopping. (Ayeyarwaddy Times)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
During a junta terrorist attack on Kotaungbo village of Kantbalu township in Sagaing Region yesterday, troops killed a 13-year-old boy and shot and injured a 7-year-old girl and 2 elderly people. They also kidnapped 14 hostages. Other troops are also attacking villages and causing mass displacement of civilians in Wetlet and Ayadaw townships today. (Khit Thit Media)
Over 1,500 homes were torched and destroyed by the junta during the month of October, according to the National Unity Government Minister of the Interior. Over 1,000 of those were in Sagaing Region. In addition to homes, the junta burned barns full of food, motorcycles and cars, and other property.
Today 60 troops and Pyu Saw Htee terrorists are burning Detai village in Monywa township, Sagaing Region. The same gang destroyed Nagadong village yesterday, and now they are moving toward Taynpinsu and Josu villages, prompting residents to flee en masse.
Yesterday as these troops were burning Nagadong village, the Pyu Saw Htee loaded goods stolen from houses into a truck, and sent 4 people ahead on motorbikes to spot roadside bombs. All 4 were blown up and killed. Later, a truck leaving the village was also blown up and disabled, killing 5 or 6 troops. Local PDFs lack the firepower to stop these village assaults, but can inflict casualties on the terrorists as they move around. (Myaelatt Athan)
Also today, troops burned Myaunggyi village of Kawlin township, after 3 troops were wounded by a landmine.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
It turns out that 2 of the 6 junta bodies killed in a battle with the Yaw Defense Force in Gangaw township on Nov. 1 were the battalion commander and a sergeant adjutant commander. Three others were wounded. The remaining troops were thrown into chaos by the deaths of both leaders. This information was leaked by a watermelon (source inside the junta army); the YDF couldn’t identify the bodies because the troops put them in a house and burned them. (Than Lwin Times)
In Sagaing Region, a PDF coalition in Khin Oo township fired mortars into a junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorist camp yesterday, causing some casualties. The junta operatives then left their bunkers to flee, when they stepped on landmines, causing further casualties. Then there was a gun battle. In all, 9 junta operatives were killed and others wounded. (People's Spring)
Similarly, in Depayin township a PDF battalion from Shwebo fired both locally-manufactured 60mm mortars and 4 drone bombs into a junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorist camp at Saipyin 2 days ago Nov. 2, killing 20 junta troops and wounding 8. (Khit Thit Media)
In Kalay town yesterday a convoy of 80 troops was struck by a roadside bomb, killing 3. The other troops then shot their guns in all directions for several minutes. (People's Spring)
In Mandalay Region, a PDF in Mattaya township bombed a junta convoy yesterday, killing 3 troops and wounding 3 more.
Urban warfare------------------
It was another night of explosions in Yangon. Bombs went off in Tamwe, Thaketa, Bahan, Yankin, South Okalappa, North and East Dagon, and Thingangyun townships. Most bombs target junta troops on guard duty, or junta admin offices.
Terrorist acts are frequently committed at a regime checkpoint in Dala township of Yangon on the Twante road. On Nov. 1 troops detained a man returning home from work because he didn’t have his registration with him; then they tied him, gagged him, and beat him to death. When the victim’s family came for the body, the troops seized them and forced them to work on repairing their bunker. These same troops regularly extort money from motorists and demand sexual acts from women who come through. (Khit Thit Media)
In the military capital Naypyitaw, the residence of the junta’s deputy police chief was bombed today; it is the second time. (Mizzima)
Political & economic-------------------
Many international human rights groups, in particular Amnesty International, are now calling for sanctions to block the supply of aviation fuel to the Burma junta. They say even fuel for civilian flights is being diverted to the military for its air strikes, which overwhelmingly target civilians. (Mizzima)
The junta has re-imposed an old military-regime restriction on cross-border trade, to the effect that traders are only allowed to import products of the same value as exported products. Of course, Burma imports much more than it exports, especially since the coup killed production businesses in Burma, so this greatly reduces the volume of goods that can be imported. Analysts say this can only lead to smuggling, and to dramatic price increases for Thai products in Burma, of which there are a great deal. (The Irrawaddy) Each time the junta tries to solve its self-inflicted economic crisis by imposing new restrictions, it always exacerbates the crisis still further.
This weekend through Nov. 8 is Tazaundaing, a national Buddhist full moon holiday. The junta is organizing contrived celebrations to create a façade of normalcy, but the democratic resistance has asked people to avoid these shams, especially given that they can be targeted for sabotage. (Khit Thit Media)
- စီၤ ထံဆၢ