Burma coup resistance notes September 30, 2022
Financial distress turns dire for citizens; Thai army sends refugees back into live fire; police & troops ambushed and killed.
The financial crisis caused by the coup is hurting ever more deeply. The regime already restricted the amount of daily cash people could withdraw from bank accounts, meaning nobody ever had much money. Then rampant inflation cut the value of that money by over half. Now ATMs are closed, blocking many people’s access to any money at all, including their salaries. Aside from the obvious effect on average consumers who can’t buy food, the crisis has stopped many businesses from functioning, meaning that even informal-sector income is drying up.
The financial crisis is also hurting freedom fighters’ ability to fight, and even to eat. If you are inclined to contribute to the PDFs or ethnic defenders, your help is particularly needed now. Ending this misery is dependent on winning the war and removing the junta.
In a related story, the military regime wants to decouple the kyat currency from any comparison against the USA dollar, and instead make it convertible into Russian and Chinese currency. (Mizzima)
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Arakan State, the Arakan Army intercepted a junta food supply convoy coming from Yangon yesterday, causing a 90-minute battle in which approximately 20 junta troops were killed as they were exposed on the roadway. This occurred in the border between Ponnakyun and Kyauktaw townships. (Khit Thit Media) In Rathedaung township, the AA fired grenades at a junta border guard camp, setting a troop dormitory and other buildings on fire.
In Kawthoolei Beit-Tavoy District (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps), a PDF fired on a marching column of junta troops yesterday in Banlaw village of Tanintharyi township. They killed 5 of the troops before retreating unharmed. This was the 3rd battle in 2 days. In Launglone township, a PDF attacked 5 junta/Pyu Saw Htee operatives who had been extorting money from travelers, killing 2 and seriously wounding 2; 2 PDF fighters were also injured. (Tanintharyi Times)
In Kawthoolei Doo Tha Htoo District (Thaton township on Burmese maps), a deputy leader of a pro-junta local militia was assassinated in a tea shop in Debrayn village yesterday. (Tanintharyi Times)
In Kawthoolei Dooplaya District (Myawaddy township on Burmese maps), junta shelling of Thay Baw Bo village yesterday forced civilians across the border into Thailand, where the Thai army forced them back into the mortar barrage. (Nant Bwa Bwa Phan) On the same day, Karen army Brigade 6 and allied PDF attacked about 100 junta troops for an hour in Kyainseikgyi township, killing 3 of them and critically wounding one. (People's Spring)
In northern Shan State, the Kachin army and allied PDF attacked a police barracks at Manton. All the police fled, and the Kachin burned the station, then left. Manton is normally in the area of the Ta’ang ethnic army, TNLA. (Kachin News Group)
In Mon State, a PDF called the Ye Monsters fired on a car carrying 3 junta police in Ye township this morning, leaving no survivors. A chief was among them. The PDF captured their weapons. In northern Shan State, a vehicle carrying 2 junta officers and 2 junta doctors exploded last night, killing all four. (People's Spring)
In Karenni State, junta troops fired large-caliber 120mm mortars into a Catholic temple in Demawso town yesterday, collapsing the church roof and severely injuring a 17-year-old student inside, causing his intestines to come out. (Kantarawaddy Times)
A passenger flight landing at Loikaw airport in Karenni State was penetrated by a small metal object today, slightly injuring a traveler. The junta accuses Karenni defenders of shooting it, but the Karenni say they don’t have access to the area where the plane was hit and lack weapons that can hit an airplane at 1000 meters altitude where it was at the time; they say the junta was firing a mortar barrage in that area.
Three Karenni defense soldiers missing in Mobye since Sept. 3 were found dead yesterday; junta troops had thrown their bodies down a well. (Khit Thit Media)
Junta army desertions------------------
A junta lieutenant came over to the Karenni defense forces, and described how the army is ordered to destroy civilian villages where there has been no PDF activity, just treating civilians as the enemy. He says front line troops die in battle for the power-hungry personal ambitions of the top brass, and that many troops want to defect but their families are effectively held hostage by the army. (Khit Thit Media)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Junta troops burned Shawphyu Kone village for the 2nd time today, after burning it the first time in June. At that time they destroyed grain silos full of paddy (rice). This time they burned crops in the field, again in order to cause starvation among the population. (Than Lwin Khet News)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, junta troops shot young men returning from playing in a sports match in Wundwin township yesterday, killing one and injuring 2. (People's Spring)
In Indaw township, the Kachin army and allied PDF confronted 68 junta troops raiding a village yesterday, firing for 30 minutes, after the troops kidnapped hostages and murdered one of their human shields the previous day. Junta casualties from yesterday aren’t known, but 2 PDF soldiers were killed. (Myaelatt Athan)
In Tamu township, Tamu township Battalion 3 enforced internal discipline by dismissing 4 of its soldiers who were absent without leave. Both the National Unity Government and ethnic armies have been emphasizing military discipline and respect for the norms of engagement, especially the protection of civilians. (The Irrawaddy)
In Mandalay Region, a PDF in Myinchan township attacked a small group of junta troops at a local administrator’s house in Pyawbwe Sanpya village yesterday; the administrator and troops ran away, and the PDF captured their weapons. In Nyaung Oo township a pro-junta politician in was assassinated yesterday because he was causing the imprisonment of local citizens and raising money for the junta. (Khit Thit Media)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, 2 junta administrators in South Dagon township were assassinated by an urban PDF yesterday for causing the imprisonment of pro-democracy activists. (Mizzima) A member of the junta air force was shot dead yesterday in Panbedan township of downtown Yangon while shopping in civilian clothes; while the shooter was escaping, troops shot 2 civilians by mistake and injured them critically. Also last night, an urban PDF fired on guards at the gate of an engineering battalion in Thanlyin township, wounding and possibly killing 2 of them. These shooters also escaped. (Khit Thit Media)
After a senior retired general and his son-in-law were assassinated in Yangon this past week, other senior retired officers are decamping from Yangon to the military capital Naypyitaw for their safety. (Ayeyarwaddy Times) This can be seen as a retreat by regime personnel.
In Mandalay, someone bombed a junta vehicle admin office last night, wounding a soldier on guard duty.
- စီၤ ထံဆၢ