Burma coup resistance notes September 7, 2022
A pro-junta ethnic militia in Sagaing Region has been beheading young people and sharing gruesome videos on-line. The Shanni militia known as the SNA murdered over 20 youths in August alone, sharing mobile phone videos among themselves, from where they ended up on social media. This is taking place in Hommalin township near the Indian border, far from the battles near Kachin State, so the murders are not combat-related. The SNA accuses the youths of PDF involvement, though in reality they are gold mining workers. The junta tried to blame the videos on PDFs, but the SNA people featured are recognizable. (Khit Thit Media)
Meanwhile, the National Unity Government defense minister U Yi Mon said in a speech yesterday that the NUG's fundraising situation has improved, which is leading to better arms procurement for the Revolutionary forces increasingly driving back the junta across the country, especially the PDFs. (People's Spring)
Ethnic regions-------------------
In Kawthoolei (Karen nation) Beit-Tavoy District (Tanintharyi Region on Burmese maps), local PDFs east of Dawei won a victory over numerically-superior and better-armed junta troops, using surprise and guerrilla tactics. Fighting has occurred along the Dawei-Htee Khee Thailand border road over the past week, and yesterday the PDFs were able to kill 10 junta troops and capture several guns, grenades, and ammunition magazines. Weapons capture happens when junta troops are routed and all those not dead or wounded flee the position. The capture of a pistol suggests that an officer was killed. Almost 30 other troops were killed in the same area if fighting Sept. 1-3.
In Kawthoolei Mutraw District (Hpapun township on Burmese maps), the Karen army Brigade 5 is reporting on 2 clashes that happened over the weekend. On Sept. 2 Karen forces ambushed a group of Burmese occupiers at Kaw Dae La Mee Lu in Luthaw township, killing 8 junta troops and capturing a quantity of weapons, ammunition, grenades, and communications equipment. The following day Sept. 3 Karen troops ambushed junta-proxy BGF operatives in Dwelo township, killing 4 of them including a company commander and wounding 5, while one Karen soldier was killed. (Mutraw News)
In Kawthoolei Dooplaya District (Kawkareik township on Burmese maps) the Karen Black Leopard column attacked a junta checkpoint on the Kaw T’Ree-Myawaddy road yesterday, killing a commander and another soldier. Troops use the checkpoint to extort and interrogate travelers. After the attack, junta troops fired large-caliber mortars into nearby villages, causing damage and injuries. (Than Lwin Khet News)
In Karenni State, Karenni defense forces ambushed junta troops today who had left their camp in Bawlakhe township to cut bamboo, killing 3 and wounding 2 and capturing a weapon. (Ayeyarwaddy Times)
In Kachin State, a battle occurred yesterday in Shwegu township between Kachin and junta troops, with no conclusive outcome; 3 soldiers were killed on each side.
In Arakan State, the junta closed schools in an area it controls in Myaypon town today after 10 explosions occurred near them. Local residents commented that it was most likely the junta itself that planted the bombs to blame on the Arakan Army. Likewise, the public believes it was the junta that planted, and then “discovered” and removed bombs in the central market in Myauk Oo town yesterday, using that as a pretext to close the market and cause food shortage among the population. The Arakan Army has inflicted several costly defeats on the junta recently. Yesterday masked kidnappers abducted a doctor in Taungok, Arakan State who runs a private non-government clinic. (Myaelatt Athan)
Junta scorched earth village terrorism campaign---------------
In Yesagyo township of Magway Region, junta troops continued their destruction of villages on Yele Island yesterday, burning Myaytaw village homes and vehicles. The troops even punch holes in cooking pots to keep people from eating. (Khit Thit Media)
People’s Defense Forces (PDFs)-----------------
In Sagaing Region, a PDF in Butalin township attacked two different marching columns of junta troops yesterday, killing 20 troops and wounding at least 5. The troops had been attacking Dungtaw village, and the PDF was tipped off by a watermelon (spy for the Revolution within the junta military). (Mizzima)
Two junta troops were killed and 10 wounded by a PDF drone bomb and mortar attack in Ayadaw township yesterday at Kanphyu village. In Palay township, a PDF says it bombed a convoy yesterday with four mines, killing 4 troops and wounding 8. A Khin Oo township PDF is reporting that it dropped 6 drone bombs on junta troops who have been extorting and threatening travelers, killing 12 of them; the date isn’t given. (Khit Thit Media)
In Bago Region, junta troops were rotating at Wegyi dam in Paungde township yesterday when a local PDF blew up a vehicle with 2 large roadside bombs, killing 5 and wounding 3.
Urban warfare------------------
In Yangon, urban guerrillas opened fire on a junta admin office in Shwepyitha township last night, killing the chief administrator and seriously wounding 4 aides. (Khit Thit Media)
Politics & economy-------------------
A report by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland says junta officers are loan-sharking to their subordinate troops. The galloping inflation has hurt soldiers’ families as much as anyone, and as the families find themselves unable to make ends meet, they turn to borrowing money for living expenses. Officers lend them money at usurious interest rates, trapping the soldiers and families in a whirlpool of mounting debt. Spouses are kept on army bases and not allowed to leave to earn other income. (Mizzima) Similarly, in Puta-O township of Kachin State, junta-collaborationist teachers at regime-controlled schools are extorting money from students who are trying to catch up on time lost during Covid and the coup. (Kachin News Group)