Burma coup resistance notes September 15, 2022
Due to its heavy losses of ground troops, the junta is changing tactics. It is relying more on air power, landing troops for surprise attacks with helicopters, and bombing areas with jets before ground assaults. All available aircraft are now being used more or less constantly. For the remaining ground troops, they are dressing as PDFs in civilian clothing and riding in private cars. The junta is focusing attacks on civilians due to its losses against ethnic armies and PDFs. (Khit Thit Media)
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Karenni area, junta troops are renewing their assault on Mobye town, 2 days after retreating with heavy losses from a near-encirclement by Karenni defense forces. They marched up the railway tracks and are firing mortar barrages at the town. (People's Spring)
In Kachin State, the junta’s personnel shortage has left it without enough troops to guard its camp in Mogaung township, so it is resorting to forced recruitment of villagers to stand guard. A male from each household is required to spend 9 hours per day on guard duty, or a woman if no man is available. There is no pay. The slavery system is also used to make villagers dig trenches for the army. (The 74 Media)
In Kawthoolei Kler Lwi Htoo District (Kyaukgyi township on Burmese maps), the junta has carried out airstrikes by Russian-supplied jets and helicopters on civilian targets for the past 2 days. Fighting occurs daily in Kler Lwi Htoo between the junta and Karen army Brigade 3. Due to junta violence, over 17,500 civilians are living rough in the bush and are in need of humanitarian supplies. (Mizzima)
In the junta-occupied Karen State capital Hpa-an, a drone flew over a junta camp in town on Sept. 13, so the troops shot at it and then kidnapped 2 nearby civilians. A bomb exploded at the night market along the Salween River waterfront. Residents report insecurity due to frequent shooting and explosions. (Karen Information Center)
In Kawthoolei Beit-Tavoy District (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps), junta troops in Dawei township released the 100 hostages they had kidnapped in Bawapin village yesterday, but then ransacked and looted items from homes, burned a refugee camp, and shot their guns randomly in all directions. Residents complained that the troops tore their houses completely apart. The troops threatened to return and burn the village and kill people if anyone shared pictures of the destruction. (Karen Information Center)
In southern Shan State, the junta proxy militia PNO, made up of co-opted ethnic Pa-O lackeys, captured 5 members of the legitimate Pa-O resistance militia and summarily killed them in junta fashion yesterday. (People's Spring)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
After a PDF killed 2 junta police on a road in Monywa township of Sagaing Region 3 days ago, troops yesterday attacked and burned 3 large civilian villages near the road, sending 10,000 people fleeing as refugees. Kyungyi, Natgyikyun, and Gosu villages are affected.
Junta troops have been systematically invading and burning villages in Gangaw township of Magway Region and abducting villagers as hostages and human shields. This has been going on since late August but intensified during the past week.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, 13 specialized commandos from a PDF in Palay township ambushed junta troops yesterday, killing 5 of them. In Myaing township a drone-bombing PDF attacked oil barges in the Irrawaddy River heading toward Mandalay, killing 2 troops aboard one of them yesterday. In Yinmapin township there was a gunfight yesterday in which 4 junta troops were seriously wounded and 2 PDF soldiers were killed.
In Magway Region, a PDF laid landmines in front of a junta column advancing to attack villages on Yele Island in Yesagyo township yesterday, killing 8 troops and wounding others. In Myaing township a PDF opened fire on a junta police patrol, killing 1 and seriously wounding 1; the others ran away. The PDF captured the dead officer’s weapon and ammunition. Also in Myaing township yesterday, a PDF fired locally-made 80mm and 100mm mortars at junta/Pyu Saw Htee terrorist camp at Tharekkan village, killing 2 operatives. (Khit Thit Media)
In Kyaukyit in Myaing township, the number of junta police has recently increased, followed by an increase in burglaries, especially close to the police barracks. (Than Lwin Khet News)
Local junta administrators were assassinated yesterday in Paungde township of Bago Region, Kunchangone township of Yangon Region and Yejei township of Irrawaddy Region, and another was killed in Palaw township of Kawthoolei Beit-Tavoy District (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps) on Sept. 13.
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, a junta admin office was bombed last night in Sanchaung township, as were a police office this morning in North Okalappa and a location in Thaketa township.
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
In the junta’s home base Naypyitaw, its administrative functions are being hampered by a Covid outbreak, and staff are ordered to work 2 days per week from home. The public health system collapsed after the Feb. 2021 coup d'état, and the only vaccines the junta received were Chinese. (Khit Thit Media)