Burma coup resistance notes October 28, 2023
Major surprise operation by three northern ethnic armies stuns the junta and captures many positions across Shan State
Yesterday Oct. 27 "Operation 10/27" was launched before dawn across northern Shan State by three ethnic armies working together. The Ta’ang, Kokang, and Arakan armies attacked multiple junta positions from Lashio town to Muse, Monko, and Namkan in the north to the Chinshwehaw border crossing to China in the east, capturing some of them (the number still isn’t known), killing a large number of junta troops and police, capturing others, and seizing weapons. The Kokang now control all of Chinshwehaw region. By noon the junta was responding the only way it could, with airstrikes, and about 120 junta trucks were seen moving north from Kalaw, but the regime had lost control over a broad swath of Shan State. Videos and photos published by the Kokang showed over a dozen dead police, three captured troops, seized weapons, and a destroyed vehicle. The border camp at Chinshwehaw was captured and destroyed, and the Ta’ang captured another junta camp in Kutkai Township. The Burmese People’s Liberation Army and the Mandalay PDF also took part in the coordinated attacks. Junta troops in Lashio city are firing rockets from their base, but don’t dare to go out of it. (All media sources 10/27)
Simultaneously, the Ta’ang were still fighting the junta at Mogok town in Mandalay Region, the Kachin army and its PDF allies intercepted a junta column in northern Sagaing Region at Hteetaing, and the Karen army carried its fight from the Asia Highway into Kaw T’Ree town. The Kachin and allies say they killed at least 30 junta troops on Oct. 27. Operation 10/27 was an enormous surprise and setback for the beleaguered junta. (People's Spring 10/27)
Many junta troops were previously deployed out of Shan State to fight the Karenni, leaving positions there weakened.
Junta jets attacked Chinshwehaw all day and all night in retaliation for the takeover by the Kokang. Some bombs fell inside China near Muse, and civilians were harmed on the Burma side. Fighting is continuing further north in Laukkaing. (Khit Thit Media 10/28) The Ta’ang report 18 junta dead in attacks on 3 camps that were captured, with fighting ongoing in Naungcho and Mogok where helicopter gunships and rockets are counter-attacking.
Ethnic regions-------------------
Kachin-----------------
KIO Vice President Vice-General Gon Maw made a public appearance at the captured Aungja camp on Oct. 23 as a statement of defiance, even while junta aircraft and forces were trying to recapture it. Two junta commanders died at Aungja. The junta had 3 camps there, now it has none. (Khit Thit Media 10/24) Photos and videos emerging from the Aungja camp capture showed junta men who were middle-aged or elderly, sporting white hair. This is who the desperate regime is now sending into battle due to the loss of so many of its soldiers.
On Oct. 25 the Kachin army and allied PDF wiped out a junta outpost that was guarding a jade mine seized by the junta in August. The troops were driven out, weapons captured, and the buildings destroyed. Local people then looted large rough jade stones from the junta’s company. (The IrrawaddyB 10/26)
After capturing 3 junta camps last week, the Kachin army went on to attack another one in Mansi Township in southern Kachin State on Oct. 24. (People's Spring 10/25)
A video from the Kachin army capture of the junta's last camp at Aungja shows middle-aged and elderly men sent into battle by the junta. (Kachin News Group 10/23)
Drone video showing a bomb dropping directly into a foxhole where junta troops were visible at Aungja camp. (Khit Thit Media 10/21)
Kawthoolei-----------------
Junta troops invaded villages east of Kaw T’Ree town on the Asia Highway on Oct. 24-26. A Karen army sniper shot and killed a junta battalion commander, and 10 other troops were killed and at least 8 wounded. Helicopters came from Mawlamyaing to defend the troops. (Salween Press 10/24, Khit Thit Media 10/26)
Then on Oct. 27 the fighting moved inside Kaw T’Ree town itself, with Karen forces destroying offices of the junta army and police and occupying the town hall, court, and jail. The Karen cleared out a junta camp in a monastery. This attack was coordinated with Operation 10/27 of the Northern Alliance, and because the junta air force was occupied in Shan State that day, there were no retaliatory airstrikes in Kaw T’Ree. (Karen Information Center, The IrrawaddyE 10/27) The Karen army also attacked the junta in Azin, southeast of Kaw T’Ree.
Karen PDFs attacked a junta camp in Beit Township of Beit-Tavoy District for 2 days Oct. 20-21. At first there were 30 junta troops there, but then 50 reinforcements arrived the 2nd day. During the two days 33 junta troops were killed and at least 6 were wounded. Two PDF soldiers were also seriously wounded. The PDFs had to break off their attack when they ran out of ammunition. (Khit Thit Media 10/23)
Also in Beit-Tavoy, Karen PDFs have been attacking the junta’s remaining positions in Ye Phyu, Thayetchaung, Tenasserim, and Tavoy Townships, causing small numbers of casualties each time.
Six junta troops fled their units and joined the Karen army, five from an infantry battalion and one engineer. (Salween Press 10/27)
The junta pounded Kler Lwi Htoo District with 25 airstrikes in 9 days, in an area where it lost control to Karen army Brigade 3. Homes were damaged and civilians were injured, but the bombing achieved no strategic purpose. (Myaelatt Athan 10/28)
Mon-------------------
Following the Oct. 20 battle in which four PDFs attacked a camp of 100 junta troops at a bridge head in Ye Township of Mon State, they attacked again the following day. Over the 2 days 45 junta troops were killed and a number of weapons and some ammunition were seized. Twelve Revolution soldiers received injuries. (Than Lwin Khet News 10/23)
Karenni-----------------
The junta convoy of ammunition and mortars that left Loikaw in July trying to get to Mese has finally reached Bawlakhe, just over halfway to Mese, after being attacked and delayed by Karenni defense forces for 3 months. Normally that stretch can be driven in one day. The convoy has an escort of 1000 junta troops to get through Karenni defenses. (Myanmar NowE 10/26)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
A flotilla of 7 junta cargo boats on the Chindwin River got into trouble when one of them ran aground and PDFs attacked. On Oct. 2 two troops were killed trying to guard the stranded boat. Two days later more troops tried to rescue the boat and at least 20 were killed, causing them to abandon the boat. PDFs then fired on the remaining boats and set one of them ablaze, leaving only 5 remaining. (Khit Thit Media 10/24)
PDFs have been dogging a column of 150 junta troops that has looted entire villages and burned homes in Thabeitjin Township of Mandalay Region since Oct. 11. Using landmines and gunfire, the PDFS say they killed at least 16 of the troops and damaged some vehicles. (Khit Thit Media 10/22)
Unnamed PDFs toppled a high-tension power line pylon that supplies the Chinese-owned Wangbao YMC copper smelting factory in Salinji Township of Sagaing Region on Oct. 19. It took 3 days to restore power. The Chinese company has allowed 100 troops to use its compound as a staging base for terrorist attacks on surrounding villages, and the company recently stole the land from two nearby villages with the collusion of the junta. The power line was sabotaged also in June. (Mizzima 10/22)
A PDF counter-attacked junta troops terrorizing villages in Salin Township of Magway Region on Oct. 21, killing 12 troops and wounding 11. (Khit Thit Media 10/22)
The Urban Special Ops group fired five 107mm rockets into Hmawbi airbase north of Yangon on Oct. 22, striking an aircraft hangar and causing 3 explosions there. Details of damage to buildings and aircraft aren’t known. (Khit Thit Media 10/23)
Urban warfare------------------
The police barracks in Myangone Township of Yangon was bombed on Oct. 25, also the junta-owned Myawaddy Bank branch in South Okalappa Township.
Junta decline------------------
More than 20 junta troops working at a weapons factory in Bago Region have fled to freedom, and the factory commander has been covering up the desertions. They reportedly left due to abuse and exploitation by the commander. (Myaelatt Athan 10/23)
The junta has purged another of its own senior members. Lt. Gen. Soe Htut, who was interior minister and deputy prime minister after the coup, has been charged with corruption along with his family. He supposedly took kickbacks to award government contracts and gave construction contracts to his own son. His wife demanded bribes from ministry staff looking for promotions. (The IrrawaddyE 10/24) In this kleptocratic regime charges of corruption, however valid, are inevitably cover for some graver offense such as disloyalty.
Pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee thugs kidnapped 20 local youths in Irrawaddy Region and sent them for military training. The junta is paying the Pyu Saw Htees a bounty for each live person they deliver to the army. (Ayeyarwaddy Times 10/27) It remains to be seen what happens when the junta gives guns to people who hate it.
Terrorism--------------------
The junta is kidnapping civilians including infants and toddlers in Wetlet Township of Sagaing Region to use as human shields as it tries to repair the Mandalay-Myitkyina (Kachin State) railway to use as a supply corridor. A train left Mandalay two months ago carrying military supplies and has been stalled in mid-Sagaing due to attacks and railroad sabotage. Civilians are being made to pay the price. (Mizzima 10/26)
Political and economic-------------------
In response to Operation 10/27 which occurred close to China’s Yunnan Province, Beijing urged “all parties” to cease fighting and find a “peaceful settlement.” The ruling Chinese Communist Party, which backs the junta, regards Burma’s civil war as an inconvenience to its business interests, and after nearly 3 years does not understand that the war will continue as long as the junta exists.
-စီၤ ထံဆၢ
We are grateful for our beloved bravest heroes. We are praying for all of you.