Burma coup resistance notes September 19, 2022
The Arakan Army's new assertiveness may be decisive in the Revolution
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Paletwa township of southern Chin State, the Arakan army has cut off and isolated some junta camps since August, causing a desperate supply situation in the camps, particularly the strategic Sinthandaung camp and the Myeikwa camp at the Burma-India-Bangladesh border. In response, the junta has been using airstrikes and mortar barrages to try to break the blockade, so far without success. Yesterday 3 Russian-supplied jets dropped 11 bombs, then 2 attack helicopters came and fired on the area, while junta ground troops fired mortars. The Arakan Army returned fire. Now the AA has captured the Sinthandaung camp, the 4th major junta border camp captured by the AA since August. (Khit Thit Media, People’s Spring)
An Arakan Army source said today that more than 100 junta soldiers from the blockaded area have recently defected to the AA, and more have contacted the AA to arrange defection, including officers. The regime has gathered 10,000 troops in northern Arakan State and southern Chin State to fight the AA, and an AA spokesman says a lot more fighting is anticipated. (Ayeyarwaddy Times)
Arakan State may be one of the most likely ethnic regions to break away from Burma after the war. The Arakanese have established their own judicial and administrative structures, and have been conserving their military strength until recently. Before a November 2020 undeclared ceasefire, the AA was one of the Burma army’s strongest battlefield opponents.
In Karenni area, junta troops continued firing long-range mortars into Mobye town yesterday, after killing 2 children that way two days earlier. No damage was reported yesterday. The junta still wants to take Mobye town, but thus far isn’t sending in ground troops, after losing about 60 of them last week and nearly getting encircled by Karenni defense forces. (People's Spring)
Karen army Brigade 5 reported its combat statistics for the first half of September in Kawthoolei Mutraw District (Hpapun township on Burmese maps). 68 clashes took place, killing 51 junta troops including a major and a battalion commander; 31 were wounded including 2 battalion commanders; 1 Karen soldier was killed and 11 were wounded. One civilian was killed by indiscriminate junta mortar fire into farming areas.
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Details are emerging from the junta attack on a school and monastery in Letyet Kone village of Depayin township on Sept. 16. Helicopters hovered over the community, firing heavy bullets down into the school and monastery for an hour. Six children and 7 adults were murdered as they tried to hide under beds and trees. The children’s bodies were torn open and dismembered by the heavy ammunition. Then ground troops entered, threatening the teachers and insisting that there must be PDFs in the school. They stole the dead children’s bodies to conceal the evidence, and also kidnapped the wounded children. A bold teacher challenged a junta soldier that he must not have children or he couldn’t be so brutal toward the students. Thirteen civilians in total were murdered in the attack, which junta propaganda media are blaming on PDFs. (Mizzima)
In Sagaing Region’s Kantbalu township, junta troops shot dead a 5-year-old boy in Mithalindon village on Sept. 17. They were firing their guns in all directions in a civilian community. Then they burned the village. (Khit Thit Media)
Yesterday a junta terror gang was attacking Saigaung village in Myaing township, Magway Region when 4 allied PDFs counter-attacked with locally-made mortars and gunfire, forcing the troops to redirect their fire at the PDFs and allowing the civilians to escape. The PDFs withdrew safely. (People's Spring)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, a PDF in Ayadaw township ambushed a marching column of 40 junta troops yesterday, killing 5 of them and causing injuries. A PDF drone-bombed a junta Pyu Saw Htee training session at the Khin Oo township admin office on Sept. 16, killing 3 troops and wounding 5, and the same day a PDF in Chaung Oo township blew up a junta de-mining team trying to clear a road for a convoy, killing 7 troops and wounding others. (Khit Thit Media)
In Kalewa township yesterday, a PDF raided a police office in Maseinsipya village, killing 4 junta police and a police family member, and capturing their weapons. The PDF then burned the office. (Ayeyarwaddy Times) In Palay township, a coalition of 16 PDFs together attacked the main junta police barracks in Palay town the night of Sept. 17, firing for an hour and killing 6 police and wounding 3 seriously.
In Bago Region, a PDF in Nattalin township opened fire on junta troops guarding a marina yesterday, killing 2 of them. When the troops returned fire, a gun battle followed in which 5 more troops were killed. (People's Spring)