Burma coup resistance notes November 11, 2022
"We will die one day so it is better to die meaningfully. Will we let ourselves be subjected to dictatorship or will we rise in revolt?" - a PDF commander in Myaing township, Magway Region
Among the 5 villages burned down in Myaung township in the past 4 days were the homes of 3 junta army officers with the rank of major. The destruction has become so generalized that it affects the home communities of some of the perpetrators. One of the majors’ families used a photo to prove their junta affiliation and received an apology for the destruction of their home; the other 2 families joined the caravans of 10,000 refugees fleeing the violence in Myaung township of Sagaing Region. (The 74 Media)
Ethnic regions-------------------
After the Arakan Army captured 2 junta food supply trucks in Ponnah Kyun yesterday, junta troops responded by shooting dead 10 civilian villagers and leaving the bodies where they fell, then burning homes. This was after airstrikes were called in. Then today junta troops killed 2 more villagers with random mortar fire; the victims were tending their cows when they were killed. (Khit Thit Media)
A surge of junta troops into Beit-Tavoy District of Kawthoolei (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps) continues to cause conflict. This morning a 3-vehicle convoy going from Dawei to Myeik was bombed in Thayetchaung township, disabling one of the trucks and killing 5 troops. Later today troops were dropped by helicopter into Mimaung Kone and Seithamye villages of Ye Oo township, where they chased away residents and began burning the communities; the extent of damage and casualties isn’t yet known, but no PDF activity is reported there. (Mizzima)
Yesterday junta troops clashed with a local PDF in Palaw township again 3 times, and 7 junta troops were killed before the troops turned back. Also, a Pyu Saw Htee terrorist was shot and killed by a PDF in Launglone township near Dawei. (Khit Thit Media)
The junta launched helicopter and jet bombing yesterday in Dooplaya District of Kawthoolei (Myawaddy township on Burmese maps), trying to dislodge Karen Cobra battalion forces so the junta could advance southward. It didn’t work, the Cobras counter-attacked and caused an unknown number of junta casualties. (Cobra Column via Mizzima)
In Chin State, junta troops invaded Palone Dwi village of Mindat township from nearby Htilin township in Magway Region on Nov. 7. Chin forces then surrounded them in the village, and their snipers killed 2 troops. They were prevented from further attacking and capturing the junta troops, however, when the troops abducted local people as human shields. The troops then burned the town and left, but killed 7 of their hostages first. (Than Lwin Khet News)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
One of the PDFs’ dangerous duties is evacuating civilians when junta terrorists invade villages. Junta troops shot and killed 2 PDF soldiers while the latter were helping people escape Theysheikan village in Butalin township, Sagaing Region on Nov. 9. (Khit Thit Media)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
Another coordinated PDF coalition gathered 2 days ago Nov. 9 to stop a junta/Pyu Saw Htee village terrorism gang of 140 people that has been burning and driving away communities in Tantse township. The PDFs attacked for 2 hours until they ran out of ammunition, killing 12 of the terrorists. A PDF representative commented that the junta/Pyu Saw Htee column appeared to include about 25 female Pyu Saw Htees. (Mizzima) The junta has been giving villagers in Sagaing Region the choice of joining the terrorism or becoming its victims. Entire villages either become Pyu Saw Htee camps or they are burned to the ground.
Also in Tantse township yesterday, a PDF drone-bombed junta/Pyu Saw Htees at a crossroads checkpoint, injuring 3 of them. (Khit Thit Media)
Likewise in Bago Region, a report emerged yesterday of a Nov. 7 battle in which PDFs gathered to counter-attack a junta village destruction gang in Myah village of Taungoo township. The PDFs killed 7 of the 26 junta troops and wounded 9. The PDFs captured some weapons and were able to recover the items looted from the village and return them to their owners. (Khit Thit Media)
In Myinmu town of Sagaing Region, 8 troops guarding the junta-owned Myanma Economic Bank fell asleep last night. A PDF opened fire, killing 5 of them and seriously wounding another. Last week 4 junta troops were killed in the same location. (Myaelatt Athan)
A junta judge was killed by a package bomb at his courthouse today in Kawlin township. The responsible party isn’t mentioned. (Khit Thit Media)
The National Unity Government is training a special commando unit to operate in cities. It is under the NUG's 703rd battalion based in Magway Region and comprises 30 specially equipped and trained commandos. The report doesn’t specify the source of the commando training expertise. (Than Lwin Khet News
)Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, 5 acres of rare farmland in Shwepyitha township were stolen from the farmers and sold to a junta crony by regime administrators collaborating with the military. Junta thugs destroyed the farmers’ houses and threatened anyone objecting to the sale. (Khit Thit Media) The only distinction of this case is that it happened in the city; in fact it typifies what has been happening in ethnic minority regions for the past 70+ years since independence – the theft of land by military regime cronies and the expulsion or even killing of hundreds of thousands of farmers who traditionally owned the land.
In Monywa city during the holiday, junta troops guarding a gate got drunk and fell asleep. Two of them were killed when urban PDF members noticed them and tossed a grenade into their bunker. (Mizzima)
Political and economic-------------------
As the junta prepares for sham elections in 2023, it wants to regain control of lost areas in order to enhance the reach of the voting, so it is redeploying army divisions and preparing for a big offensive in Karenni, Karen, and Chin States and Sagaing and Magway Regions. This intelligence comes from a watermelon source inside the military. The offensive could begin in November or December. (People's Spring) Junta forces already being overstretched and combat-weary without any down time, a major operation decided by the generals for political motives would come at great cost to the front-line troops, and likely accompanied by intensified air strikes. The net result could be accelerated weakening of the junta’s ground army and an upsurge of displaced civilian refugees.
Desperate for cash, the junta is cannibalizing its own. The dictatorship has issued an order for military members to buy more shares of junta crony companies, to generate cash. Soldiers, however, are reluctant to do this, since these companies have been earning few profits after the Feb. 2021 coup. Low-level troops’ salaries aren’t even sufficient to pay monthly living costs, let alone buy shares of failing companies. (Khit Thit Media)
In Kachin State, the junta has been stopping motorists and seizing cars and motorcycles. It has taken 20 cars and 60 motorcycles in Myitkyina and Bhamo. Nearly a week later most have not been returned, and may be considered stolen by the junta. The only ones returned belonged to people closely related to the junta. (The 74 Media) Junta cronies are known to re-sell vehicles stolen in this way.
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