Burma coup resistance notes October 8, 2022
The Arakan Army has again stunned the junta with dramatic battlefield defeats. Yesterday it announced the results of a week of fighting since Oct. 1, in which approximately 40 junta troops were killed, 25 wounded, and a quantity of weapons was captured. The fighting took place in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships of Arakan State and Paletwa township of southern Chin State. A 5-hour battle occurred Oct. 3 in Buthidaung that yielded the largest amount of captured weaponry. There were wounded and dead on the Arakan side as well, but the figures aren’t reported. (Myanmar Now, Khit Thit Media)
The National Unity Government says it has acquired some anti-aircraft weapons, without giving details of what types or where they are deployed, but suggesting they are for targeting helicopters. (Myanmar Now) The NUG made such an announcement several months ago, and almost simultaneously the Karen army shot and disabled a junta helicopter, but there has been no other aircraft damage since then. Anti-aircraft weapons are expensive, and so far no international ally has stepped up with military assistance, so the NUG is having to purchase the weapons on the black market with its own limited funds. The international community has allowed the illegal military regime to freely use advanced jets and helicopter gunships against children, refugee camps, and religious sites with impunity.
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Dooplaya District of Kawthoolei (Myawaddy township on Burmese maps), the Karen Cobra battalion cleared out a junta temporary camp near Taungni village on the Myawaddy-Waw Lay road. In the process they killed 3 junta troops and captured personal property that the junta troops had looted from nearby civilian homes and shops, including phones, jewelry, shop merchandise, and other items. The Cobras are now in the process of returning the items to their owners. (People's Spring)
In Karenni State, Karenni defense forces intercepted a junta patrol yesterday in the Nampkot ward of Loikaw town and they exchanged fire for 20 minutes; 3 junta soldiers died and 2 were wounded. No casualties on the Karenni side. (Kantarawaddy Times)
In Chin State, the junta has apparently lifted the blockade on civilian and commercial movement in and out of Matupi town, in place since Sept. 25, which was causing food shortages. Reports say shipments of food that had been stranded are already arriving in the town. The reason for the easing isn’t given. (Mizzima)
Junta army desertions------------------
An air force captain and 2 other airmen deserted their base with full weapons yesterday and have not turned up yet. Junta troops are searching nearby villages and threatening to destroy the communities if they accept the missing airmen. (Khit Thit Media) It is customary for several days to pass before defectors are announced, to give them time to reach safety in liberated areas with the help of the National Unity Government and/or local resistance forces.
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Troops have been burning Nyaungkayah village and firing mortar shells into Nemyi village of Myaung township, Sagaing Region today, forcing both populations to flee on foot. These villages are on the fringe of Monywa city, where there the junta troops are concentrated, and locals say these attacks were unprovoked by any fighting or PDF activity. (Khit Thit Media)
Two Russian-supplied jets and 4 helicopter gunships attacked Ngapanchaung village of Wetlet township today, then ground troops surrounded the village and trapped everyone except a few people with motorcycles who could get away quickly. (Khit Thit Media) There is fear of mass hostage taking, a potential civilian massacre, and/or beatings and torture.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
The saga of the junta supply flotilla ascending the Chindwin River continues. Yesterday several PDFs fired on the 13 boats from the banks, setting one on fire and causing damage on another. The boats are carrying jet fuel, food, and ammunition to troops in northern Sagaing Region. The convoy left Monywa on Oct. 3. (Myaelatt Athan)
In Sagaing Region, junta troops invaded Tatthit and Taung villages on the border between Ye Oo and Tantse townships yesterday, and were met by several PDFs, who killed 10 of the invaders before withdrawing.
A PDF in Tantse township drone-bombed Pyu Saw Htee terrorists, yesterday at a road checkpoint where they were extorting money from travelers, and again today at Mutain village where they were standing guard. Also, two Pyu Saw Htee terrorist camps in Sagaing Region were attacked by PDFs; yesterday a camp at Kansei was the target, where PDF soldiers fired on about 40 junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorists for 30 minutes, killing 6 of them. The day before, a PDF fired locally-made mortar shells into a Pyu Saw Htee camp at Ingokka. (Khit Thit Media, Mizzima)
A booby trap caused a truck full of junta soldiers to fall into a ditch yesterday, and 10 soldiers were killed and up to 15 wounded. The truck was emerging from the junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorist camp at Bantbwe, Yinmapin township, when it abruptly dropped into a disguised ditch that the PDF dug across the road and covered with bamboo, mats, and road dirt. This set off mines inside the ditch that blew up the truck and soldiers. Photos show the PDF digging and covering the ditch beforehand. A second truckload of troops fought off the PDF until reinforcements arrived. (Ayeyarwaddy Times) Pyu Saw Htee camps have been under coordinated attack by PDFs across the region.
Yesterday a PDF fired on troops entering Tetthit village of Tantse township and killed 6 of them, and then repeated the attack today, but today’s casualties aren’t known. The PDF was able to withdraw safely. (Khit Thit Media)
In Magway Region, local defense forces attacked a junta column invading southern Pauk township yesterday, killing 7 of them and wounding others. Pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee terrorists got a taste of their own medicine early on Oct. 5, when a PDF burned down seven of their barracks by firing large, locally-made 120mm mortars into their camp as they were sleeping. Casualties aren’t known. (Mizzima) Last night a junta policeman and a dalan were assassinated together as they were leaving a bar in Aunglan township.
In Mandalay Region a local junta administrator was assassinated yesterday in Nyaung Oo township, and in Nganzon township 2 dalans were assassinated and 1 was arrested and is being investigated by a PDF. (Khit Thit Media)
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
Burma’s UN pro-democracy ambassador, U Kyaw Moe Tun, is urging the Security Council to begin war crimes proceedings against the illegal military regime in Naypyitaw for atrocities such as the Letyetkone school massacre and the burning alive of 35 civilians last Christmas eve in Karenni State.
A 25-year-old CDM nurse from Pa-an fled to Thailand, but was chased by Thai police as an illegal immigrant. Rather than be sent back to the junta where she risked torture and death as a CDM worker, she jumped into the Thu Mwe River which forms the border, and drowned. (People's Spring) The Thai police have been forcing refugees back across the border into live fire zones.
Blood-curdling accounts from child survivors of the Sept. 16 Letyetkone school attack are described here: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/child-victims-of-myanmar-junta-air-strikes-recall-their-deadly-ordeal.html In that attack, junta helicopters killed 13 elementary school students and wounded many, in some cases blowing them to pieces, as others hid and watched the horror engulf their classmates. The UN refuses to name the perpetrators; the USA and other verbal allies still refuse to help the armed resistance end the slaughter.
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