Burma coup resistance notes September 17, 2022
While losing battle after battle and hundreds of troops, the junta continues its strategy of killing, kidnapping, and displacing civilians. The generals think the use of advanced military hardware against unarmed citizens will eventually intimidate resistance forces into abandoning their defense. Their persistence with this tactic, which has disastrously backfired since the beginning, shows the limitations of brute force in the hands of dim-witted autocrats.
After a Karen army officer said earlier this week that the junta would collapse soon, the Arakan Army’s second in command, Dr Nyo Tun Aung, said yesterday that it is time to finish the war in Arakan State and win a decisive battle over the junta. (Than Lwin Khet News)
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Kawthoolei Dooplaya District (Myawaddy township on Burmese maps), junta troops once again attacked the Karen army Cobra column south of Myawaddy yesterday. No outcome is reported yet.
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
Junta helicopters killed at least 6 civilians including children yesterday in Inpin and Letyetkone villages of Depayin township, Sagaing Region. The Russian-supplied helicopter gunships strafed the farming community indiscriminately. Then ground troops entered a school, shot dead 2 students, and kidnapped more than 20 students, teachers, and villagers as hostages. (Khit Thit Media)
In Yesagyo township yesterday, junta troops attacked and burned down Myeketaung village. They abducted and beat 13 men, and held them overnight. They looted homes and either stole or killed the livestock.
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, two PDF battalions in Tantse township preemptively intercepted a junta terrorism squad of 60 troops yesterday before they could attack Otpo Ine village, firing locally-made mortars and killing 5 of them. The troops continued to advance, and were met by the PDFs again at the village entrance, where 3 more died, for a total of 8. The troops then burned Otpo Ine and burned about 10 civilians alive. (Khit Thit Media)
In Kathah township, PDFs have battled junta troops for the past 5 days, and say they killed at least 20 troops during that time. These troops were trying to secure the riverbanks against PDFs who fire at the junta’s supply boats.
Yesterday in Monywa township a gang of pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee thugs was stopping travelers on the road, claiming to be a PDF, and stealing motorcycles, phones, and money. People complained to the real PDF, which came and killed 7 of the Pyu Saw Htee. (People's Spring)
Update on the Sept. 15 PDF attack on a junta/Pyu Saw Htee camp in Ayadaw township: The PDFs now say they killed 17 junta troops using 40mm and 60mm rocket-propelled grenades, and wounded 10, of whom 4 appeared in danger of dying. After the attack the terrorists left their camp and burned nearby villages. (Myaelatt Athan)
In another junta/Pyu Saw Htee camp in Yinmapin township, the troops stationed in Bantwe haven’t been reinforced or resupplied in 3 months and are going hungry. Because of this, they are raiding nearby villages for livestock and any other food. (Ayeyarwaddy Times)
A dalan in Tamu township was assassinated by a local PDF yesterday, and 2 Pyu Saw Htee thugs were killed in Sagaing township.
In Magway Region, a PDF in Myaing township intercepted 8 junta/Pyu Saw Htee thugs as they returned from robbing villagers, killing 6 of them and seriously wounding 2, and capturing some weapons and ammunition.
In Nattalin township of Bago Region, the junta is recruiting villagers to fight the PDFs, since the junta itself lacks sufficient troops. It is giving Pyu Saw Htee terrorism training to those who join, and telling villagers that if the junta retreats, the PDFs will come and torture them, so they need to join the Pyu Saw Htee. (Myaelatt Athan)
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon last night, urban guerrillas bombed a junta courthouse in Thingankyun township, and others fired grenades at a police post in Thaketa township. Other explosions occurred in North and East Dagon townships. A local junta administrator was assassinated in Hlaing township this morning.
In Mandalay yesterday, a railway manager who had cracked down on CDM striking workers was assassinated in Amarapura township.
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)-------------------
The interim junta police chief in Ye Oo township, Sagaing Region who the regime says died by suicide had 2 bullets in the chest and one in the abdomen, therefore his supporters say it couldn’t have been suicide. They claim a junta army general murdered him. (Khit Thit Media) Since the coup there have been numerous deadly conflicts between the junta army and police.