Burma coup resistance notes October 20, 2022
Heavy fighting in Chin State; clashes all over Doo Tha Htoo District in Kawthoolei; guerrillas who accidentally killed civilians at Insein Prison are to be punished by the National Unity Government.
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Chin State, Chin and junta forces had an intensive battle over the past 6 days along the Hakha-Htantalan road, with heavy casualties on both sides. The junta has been trying to rebuild a bridge destroyed by the Chin forces to disrupt its supply and troop transport lines, while the Chin have been fighting to prevent that. The Chin attacked 40 troops coming from Htantalan toward the bridge site. Four Chin soldiers died and one was wounded, while 25 junta troops were killed. (Mizzima)
In Doo Tha Htoo District of Kawthoolei (Kyaikto township on Burmese maps), Karen army snipers killed a junta officer and another soldier yesterday in Peynnekone. Fighting erupted when 200 troops left Kyaikto town to invade local villages and were met by Karen army Brigade 1 and allied PDFs. In retaliation for the sniper attack, troops selected 15 homes of nearby residents and burned them down. (Salween Press) The Doo Tha Htoo sniper attack is in addition to the shooting of division commander Lt. Col. Win Min Oo in Dooplaya District yesterday, and the killing of 9 top junta security officers by landmine on Oct. 17.
An Oct. 14 junta raid on a Karen PDF camp near Kyaikto was revealed today. In that attack a PDF soldier was killed and 3 others taken hostage. Yesterday those three were tied up and shot dead. (Than Lwin Khet News)
In Kler Lwi Htoo District of Kawthoolei (Kyaukgyi township on Burmese maps), a column of 100 junta troops was bombed at Nyaungpinthah village 2 days ago Oct. 18, killing 4 and wounding 3. In response, troops sabotaged a wooden motorcycle and pedestrian bridge over a river. (Khit Thit Media)
In Dooplaya District of (Myawaddy, Kawkareik, and Kyainseikgyi townships on Burmese maps), though the junta has been consistently losing battles and troops, its airstrikes and shelling have caused so much threat to civilians that the number of internal refugees has reached over 100,000, a record, according to the Kawthoolei government (KNU).
Junta army desertions------------------
Two fresh new junta soldiers defected to Karenni defense forces in Pekhon township, Karenni area 3 days ago. Unlike most defectors who are worn and weary, these two had only finished training and been deployed 1 month ago. They said that 2 weeks ago a fellow soldier killed his battalion commander and then himself, a sign of the state of morale within the junta army. They also say that desertions have become generalized, and that another colleague fled just before they did. (Than Lwin Khet News) All those deserters who don’t end up with the Revolutionary forces are likely to go unreported, so that we only know about those who do.
Likewise in Gangaw township of Magway Region, a junta policeman with full weapons went to join the Chin defense forces in nearby Kanpetlet, Chin State, and today received the prescribed reward of 500,000 kyats. On Oct. 15 a junta sniper based in Mittilah township also joined the Chin defense forces, and is being reported for the first time today.
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Troops were attacking communities in Wetlet township yesterday, including Sakanthah, Manjay Thonpin, and Mekon villages. They fired mortars, burned homes, and drove out the residents. In Sakanthah a local PDF fired on the troops with mortars and gunfire, and laid landmines in their path. There were casualties, but the number isn’t known; troops were seen removing their injured. (People's Spring)
Junta troops fired a mortar randomly and killed 2 kindergarten children and wounded another in Bonlun village of Hakha township, Chin State yesterday. (People's Spring)
Similarly, yesterday’s jet airstrikes on Yinpaungtaing village in Yinmapin township, Sagaing Region killed two women who couldn’t escape, one of whom was 7 months pregnant and the other in her 60s. Troops also kidnapped all the men they could catch, and their survival isn’t known at this time. (Than Lwin Khet News) Today, however, local PDFs struck back, hiding a roadside bomb and blowing up 9 troops fatally. (Mizzima)
The junta carried out airstrikes on villages in Indaw township today in support of ground troops who are terrorizing Nanthah and Inpin villages. (People's Spring)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
The same junta/Pyu Saw Htee gang that burned 8 villages in Pauk township and impaled a severed teacher’s head on a school gate was drone-bombed twice yesterday by local PDFs, in Payahtaung and Yebya villages. The outcome isn’t reported. (Khit Thit Media)
In Sagaing township, a local PDF blew up 2 junta trucks out of a 10-vehicle convoy on Oct. 18, killing at least 5 troops and wounding others. (Than Lwin Khet News)
In Mandalay Region, 100 junta troops just deployed in Myinjan township to look for PDFs there and in Nwatogyi township, after several PDF attacks there. The PDFs are so far avoiding the troops and watching for an advantageous moment to engage. (Mizzima)
In Bago Region, a local PDF shot 3 junta police and an administrator off their motorcycles yesterday; one of the cops died. Today, another PDF attacked a junta police barracks at Otpo, killing 5 police of a total force of 12. (Myaelatt Athan)
Urban warfare------------------
Follow up on yesterday’s double-bombing at the junta’s Insein Prison: It occurred on a day when political prisoners’ families were dropping off letters for their loved ones, and some of them were among the 8 killed. An urban PDF claimed responsibility, but tried to deflect some of the blame for the civilian casualties on junta troops firing their guns between the two explosions. The National Unity Government declared the bombing an act of terror against the civilian population and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. So this incident has the Revolutionary authorities disciplining an autonomous local revolutionary group. (Mizzima)
Today in Hlaing township of Yangon, an urban PDF assassinated a junta army officer, his wife, and a soldier. (Khit Thit Media) Such targeting of officers increases the climate of insecurity and fear within junta senior circles.
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