Burma coup resistance notes October 21, 2023
Kachin, Kokang, Mon, & Mandalay deal stinging setbacks to the shrinking junta; more junta troops flee from battle; economic mismanagement causes hunger in Yangon.
Ethnic regions-------------------
Kachin------------------
The Kachin army and allied PDF stormed and destroyed a camp of 2 junta battalions in Shweku Tsp on Oct. 18, burning all the buildings, capturing weapons, and then evacuating as the junta began bombing with mortars and jets. The camp was a communications center for the junta army. What happened to the 25 or so troops that had been in the camp isn’t reported. (Mizzima 10/18)
The next day the Kachin attacked a mountain camp far to the east in Muse Township on the Chinese border in Shan State. After a 9-hour battle the Kachin captured the camp, along with weapons including 60mm and 81mm mortars, machine gun, grenades, a lot of ammunition. At least 20 junta troops were killed. The junta counter-attacked ineffectually with jets and helicopters. (People's Spring 10/20)
Then the following day, Oct. 20, the Kachin captured a 3rd camp at Aungja near the free Kachin capital of Laiza, seizing over 100 weapons. At least 3 junta troops were captured alive and 50 killed. (People's Spring 10/20, Khit Thit Media 10/21) After the airstrike massacre of 30 Kachin refugees on Oct. 9 and three months of junta assault on Laiza, the Kachin have come storming back with vengeance.
Two senior Kachin army officers were killed in a junta airstrike in Hpakant Township on Oct. 16.
Ta’ang------------------
Ta’ang forces battled the junta in 5 different locations this week, including Mogok Township in Mandalay Region and Kutkai and Naung Cho Townships of northen Shan State. Two hundred junta troops advanced in Mogok to try to retake 2 camps they lost in September and the Ta’ang fought back, killing 3 troops on Oct. 15. (The Irrawaddy 10/16)
Kokang------------------
The Kokang ethnic army (MNDAA) was back in action this week when a column of 30 junta troops kidnapped a local guide and approached its camp on Oct. 14. During a 3 hour battle 16 of the junta troops including an officer were killed and 7 wounded, and the rest fled. The Kokang captured weapons and communication equipment. (Mizzima 10/15)
Eleven wealthy Kokang business leaders were invited to a conference China on Oct. 1, then arrested by Chinese police in connection with on-line fraud and illegal gambling that target Chinese citizens. Many of the 11 are financial supporters of the illegal Naypyitaw regime, though others appear to be connected to the Kokang’s independent government. (The Irrawaddy 10/15)
Karenni-------------------
There was fierce fighting again in western Demawso Township this week. So far, casualty figures aren’t reported, though there are said to be some on both sides.
Kawthoolei------------------
Unnamed forces blew up the Yangon-Mandalay railway line again. Both southbound and northbound tracks were damaged near Kler Lwi Htoo District on Oct. 17, stopping junta trains that carry weapons and food. That train line has already been sabotaged multiple times. (Khit Thit Media 10/17)
Junta troops tried to secure the national highway in Bilin Township of Doo Tha Htoo District for the passage of convoys on Oct. 17, but were ambushed twice by Karen army and PDF forces. Twelve troops were killed in the 2 clashes, and about 13 wounded. There were between 30 and 50 junta troops in total. (People's Spring 10/18) The Karen army controls that road.
Karen PDFs in Bokpyin Township of Beit-Tavoy District launched an attack on a police outpost on Oct. 14. The police fled in a boat, but the PDFs had anticipated that and attacked them on the river, killing at least 4. (Khit Thit Media 10/17) Karen PDFs have been battling junta troops for control of rural areas of Beit-Tavoy District.
Mon------------------
Mon PDFs and the All Burma Student Democratic Front attacked a junta bridgehead camp of 100 troops in Ye Township of Mon State on Oct. 20, killing 27 of the troops including 2 officers, and capturing guns and ammunition. The remaining junta troops were forced to retreat. (Shwe Phee Myay 10/20)
Arakan------------------
Local witnesses report that the junta has been shipping troops, equipment, and supplies into the middle townships of Arakan State. This follows the escalation of tensions and tit-for-tat abductions of personnel by the junta and the Arakan Army. (Western News 10/15) The two sides fought from August to November 2022, but then had a ceasefire. The junta has a deepening shortage of personnel, but still seems bent on opening up as many war fronts as possible.
Chin-------------------
Photos show Chin defense forces patrolling the streets of outlying districts of Tedim town, the population center of northern Chin State. There is still a junta garrison in the town, but it spends most of its time laying low to avoid attack by Chin forces. (Chindwin Post 10/16) There has been very little fighting in Chin State recently as junta forces are now cornered in their fortified positions that are hard to attack. They are there, but have no control over the towns or rural areas.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
Three PDFs from Myinchan Township in Mandalay Region crossed the Irrawaddy River and attacked a junta patrol of 80 troops and Pyu Saw Htee terrorists on Yelejun Island in Magway’s Yesajo Township on Oct. 12 and 13. They killed 41 members of the patrol and wounded some of the others, firing until they exhausted their ammunition and withdrew. (Khit Thit Media 10/14) The junta then burned 3 villages, causing 10,000 residents to flee.
A PDF in Mandalay Region is reporting that a day-long battle took place on Oct. 9 on the road between Pyin Oo Lwin and Mogok, in which it says 20 junta troops were killed and another 30 wounded. Only 15 junta troops left the battle intact. There are photos of 6 of the bodies. Three PDF soldiers also died, and the PDF captured weapons and ammunition. (Khit Thit Media 10/16)
PDFs pared down junta garrisons in many locations, killing small numbers of troops and capturing weapons in towns and rural areas. These were located in Palay, Ye Oo, Ayadaw, Myinmu, Khin Oo, and Sagaing Townships of Sagaing Region, Yesajo, Seikphyu, Nganzon, Pauk, and Pwyint Phyu townships in Magway Region, Nwatoji Township in Mandalay Region, Jauk Tdankah Township in Bago Region, and Tenasserim town in Kawthoolei’s Beit-Tavoy District. The targets included police barracks, administrative offices, and electric company offices in towns, and checkpoints and foot columns in rural areas. (Myaelatt Athan)
The National Unity Government published combat statistics for its central military division (Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, northern Shan) for the month of September: In 323 battles, 175 junta troops were killed and 301 were wounded, while 42 Revolutionary soldiers were also killed and 29 wounded. (People's Spring 10/17)
Junta decline------------------
More than 50 junta soldiers sent to the front line in Tanai Township of Kachin State recently ran away rather than fight. They were caught and sent to the rear for disciplinary action. Relations are bad between senior officers and troops. A new overall commander of the junta’s northern military department recently took over after being transferred from Karenni State, and his behavior is reported to be abusive toward his subordinates. (Khit Thit Media 10/19)
Similarly, a junta sergeant assigned to work in one of the regime’s 25 military equipment factories was redeployed to fight on the front lines in the Bago Yoma mountains. Rather than fight, however, he left and went back to the rear, where he was arrested and then beaten to death. His family was told he died of drunkenness. (Khit Thit Media 10/20)
A junta captain was killed and 2 other officers gravely wounded when a fight broke out with one of the junta’s own proxy ethnic militias, the Pa-O National Organization. The dispute was over control of the local drug trade in southern Shan State. (Mekong News 10/14)
The junta is using fake employment ads to entrap and traffic youths to replenish its dwindling ranks in the army. With unemployment running high in the coup-ravaged economy, young men show up in response to employment ads, and are then kidnapped and sent for brief training before being sent to the front lines of the war. Unwilling, inexperienced, and barely trained, these forced recruits make for ineffective soldiers.
In Bago Region the junta is trying to bolster its waning strength by recruiting more men into the Pyu Saw Htee terrorist militia. Photos show a mix of young and older civilian men mustered to receive short training to take the place of soldiers killed, wounded, run away, and deployed toward the main battle fronts in Karenni, Kawthoolei, etc. (Myanmar Now 10/19)
Recruitment has become the main criterion for junta officer promotion, according to a CDM officer. Those who gather many youths for army training can get promotions or duty stations away from the front lines.
Terrorism--------------------
Junta troops beat to death and beheaded 3 adults and 3 teenagers in a village of Yinmapin Township in Sagaing Region on Oct. 16. They were non-combatant civilians, and the murders happened during a terrorist sweep that destroyed at least 3 villages. One of the heads was left atop a post by a road. (Khit Thit Media 10/17)
Political and economic-------------------
Death from starvation is becoming a reality in Yangon. The coup has plunged Burma into deep poverty, from a formerly emerging economy. The rampant inflation means that many people can no longer afford 3 meals a day, and are eating the low-grade rice that was normally used for animal feed, and are eating rice porridge to make it stretch further. Cooking oil is in dire short supply and is being rationed. Price controls imposed by the regime have deepened the food shortages and forced food commerce into clandestine black market channels. The coup-related economic crisis has also made a lot of business difficult or impossible, leading to mass unemployment and household poverty. (The Irrawaddy 10/16)
A coalition of civilian organizations in Kawthoolei’s Beit-Tavoy District has refused to collaborate with the United Nations Office for Coordiantion of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA) because it collaborates with the terrorist junta that blocks aid to liberated areas, where most refugees are located. (People's Spring 10/16) The United Nations tacitly endorses and materially supports the terrorist regime by placing humanitarian supplies within its control.
An Oct. 15 report from ISP Myanmar shows that corruption has become rampant throughout all levels of government, and officials of all rank demand bribes from the public to do anything. Large bribes are required to get passports, small bribes in hospitals to hall guards for admittance inside, with a full range of other bribes to police, motor vehicle administration, public records, etc. (Khit Thit Media 10/17) The illegal Naypyitaw regime has degenerated into an extortionary mafia.
The new Thailand regime, which is still under the control of the military, still supports the illegal Naypyitaw junta against the people of Burma. Thai Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihaset Phuankak Kaeo, suggested dialog with the genocidal regime, despite its violation of every past agreement, and invited Vladimir Putin to visit Thailand. (The IrrawaddyB 10/19) The Thai regime denied the overwhelming results of the May election and installed a pro-military pawn as prime minister instead.
In another sign of its delusional parallel reality, the Naypyitaw junta announced that all government staff will be required to learn Russian language, in addition to being trained as paramilitary. (Myanmar Now 10/20)
-စီၤ ထံဆၢ