Burma coup resistance notes October 16, 2022
Thailand border crossings blown up; Karen forces fight junta on multiple fronts; regime police & troops degenerate into common bandits; troops burning their way through rice belt villages.
Ethnic regions-------------------
A lot of activity in Kawthoolei (Karen nation). In Dooplaya District (Myawaddy township on Burmese maps), large bombs exploded last night at both border bridges to Thailand in Myawaddy. (The Irrawaddy, Mizzima) Cars were on fire. The downtown border crossing was also bombed and heavily damaged last April. Bombings happen so often in Myawaddy that they are often not reported.
Further south, a battle is underway in Kyainseikgyi township, beginning last night and continuing today (Sunday). It centers around Tagay village, Kotkwah Mountain. Local residents spent Sunday morning in their bunkers due to junta mortar fire around the villages. (Kawthoolei Today) This morning the Karen army and the Federal Wings drone-bombing PDF dropped bombs on the junta infantry camp there, killing a lieutenant and a lieutenant-colonel and damaging guard buildings. (Khit Thit Media)
In Doo Tha Htoo District of Kawthoolei (Kyaikto township on Burmese maps), fighting is intensifying in the wake of the Oct. 12 junta murders of worshipers at the Kyaiktiyo pagoda. About 200 troops have arrived and are searching the villages for PDFs and Karen army soldiers. Oct Oct. 14, 2 days ago, there were 2 battles, and another one yesterday where there were reportedly injuries on both sides. (Myaelatt Athan)
For the 2nd day in a row yesterday Karen forces blew up a convoy headed toward Kyaikto, this one coming from the direction of Thaton. Three out of 6 vehicles were damaged and witnesses said they saw at least 10 bodies, but the definitive casualty toll isn’t reported. The convoy didn’t proceed. (Salween Press)
In Beit-Tavoy District of Kawthoolei (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps), Karen PDFs attacked a 10-vehicle junta convoy and foot column of about 100 troops on the road from Dawei to Htee Khee on the Thai border 2 evenings ago. A video shows Karen fighters firing intensively at junta troops trapped on a road below. The PDF estimates that at least 15 troops are killed or wounded. (Khit Thit Media) Another roadside bomb attack is being reported yesterday near Pakari on the same road, where 5 more troops were killed and some ammunition was captured. The survivors then attacked nearby civilian villages with mortar shelling. (Myaelatt Athan)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Four villages in Chaung Oo township were attacked and burned for the past 2 days by junta troops, causing 8,000 people to flee into the bush. Four PDF fighters were killed by junta mortar fire. Hmancho, Mateetha, Malondin, and Sinmyay villages were first hit with mortars and gunfire, then invaded and burned. Four people in Malondin have been found dead and a woman from Sinmyay was hit by mortar fire and is in danger of her life. After the residents fled into the fields and forest, the troops went after them there and abducted some as hostages. A local PDF tried to defend Mateetha, and that’s where the 4 people’s soldiers were killed yesterday. (Khit Thit Media, People’s Spring)
Troops burned Pidawkchon and Sin Nyaing villages in Wetlet township yesterday in unprovoked attacks. In these cases the villagers had enough advance notice to escape, but they lost their homes and their belongings. (Khit Thit Media)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
A man who ran a guitar shop in Letpandaung, Ko Aung Zo Min, was kidnapped by the junta and accused of supplying PDFs. Yesterday his family was told he was dead, but the junta wouldn’t allow the them close to the body and kept it in the dark to hide the signs of torture and beating. Then they burned it. Ko Aung Zaw Min had a wifef and 2 young children. (Myaelatt Athan)
In Sagaing Region, a PDF in Salingyi township seized a food shipment in a private vehicle destined for a junta police barracks yesterday. The PDF confiscated a pistol. (Khit Thit Media)
In Yinmapin and Salingyi townships, local people donated 150 million kyats worth of gold jewelry (about US$50,000) to buy M4 Carbine rifles for their local protection force. (Myaelatt Athan)
In Yinmapin township 2 PDFs detonated a roadside bomb by a van full of junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee thugs on Oct. 14. The van stopped running, and the junta operatives got out and ran away. The PDFs then seized the vehicle and towed it away. It was a civilian vehicle that had been stolen by the junta. (People's Spring)
Junta troops raided a PDF camp in Butalin township yesterday; 2 members stayed to defend the escape of the others, and those two died. Today the PDF counter-attacked the junta’s camp, killing 2 troops and wounding 3, while another PDF soldier was killed. (People's Spring)
In Shwebo township, 16 junta and Pyu Saw Htee operatives were returning to their camp after a day of extorting money from travelers on the road 2 days ago Oct. 14, when they were blown up by a PDF bomb. Five died and others were wounded. (People's Spring)
In Irrawaddy Region, troops and their lackeys in Pathein town kidnapped 30 local residents after being tipped off by dalans about pro-democracy comments and news shares on their Facebook pages. Five of them raised ransoms and were released, while the other 25 are still being held pending ransom, along with several youths who were kidnapped for no reason whatsoever. (Ayeyarwaddy Times) This is basically a kidnapping and extortion scheme that uses the junta’s police-state political strictures as a pretext. In Ma U Bin in the same region, troops and police are holding up people at the entrance to villages and demanding 5,000 kyats to pass. It is a regime of brazen banditry.
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, there is an update on the missile attack on the air force base at the Yangon airport in Mingaladon township two nights ago. Two of the 3 shock rockets hit their targets, and an inside source says there were up to 10 casualties. (People's Spring)
Yesterday an urban PDF set off a bomb at the junta courthouse in Kyimyindaing township. (Mizzima)
In Monywa city, capital of Sagaing Region, junta troops were searching for roadside bombs on Oct. 14 after an urban PDF bombed an armored vehicle, with several other troops standing guard. Three of those guards were shot dead by the PDF, using locally-made guns. The PDF escaped and left the junta troops shooting their guns wildly. (Myaelatt Athan)
Update on the Monywa grenade attack on an armored vehicle: The grenade entered the vehicle and killed at least 3 troops and others wounded. (People's Spring)
In Magway city, capital of Magway Region, a junta policeman was assassinated in the midst of the city yesterday as he was buying a chaw of betel nut. (Mizzima)