Issue 78 December 14th 2023

Conflict

Blockade of Myanmar’s Rakhine State Leaves Residents Increasingly Desperate And Isolated

Food and fuel shortages are compounded by lack of internet access and intermittent telecom signals, as well as junta troops firing on farmers trying to harvest their rice.

Myanmar Resistance Seizes Key Police Station in Bago Region

PDF, KNLA and BPLA forces ousted junta troops from the station in Phyu Township on the old Yangon-Naypyitaw-Mandalay highway, two hours’ drive from the capital.

The Guardian view on Myanmar’s military: the generals are in trouble | Editorial

Ethnic armed groups have scored remarkable successes in the last month. But the army will not cede power easily When Myanmar’s military launched a coup almost three years ago, snatching back the limited portion of control they had ceded to elected civilian leaders, it looked like the same old story. Once again, the generals were crushing the democratic aspirations of their people. To widespread surprise, perhaps most of all the military’s, they failed to stamp out the resistance. What began as a courageous campaign of civil disobedience led to tens of thousands of civilians joining armed groups, including people’s defence forces (PDFs) set up by the national unity government formed from the remnants of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. Continue reading...

Myanmar fighting at its worst since 2021 coup, says UN

Widespread escalation in violence across number of states poses greatest challenge yet to military rule Myanmar is gripped by the worst escalation in violence since the military seized power in a coup almost three years ago, the UN has said, with intense clashes taking place across a number of states and regions. The UN said an escalation in the fighting that began late in October was “the largest in scale and most extensive geographically” since the military coup, and has affected swathes of the country. Continue reading...

Myanmar shadow govt claims hundreds of junta surrenders since end October

At least 377 junta soldiers – including two full battalions – and 56 junta police officers surrendered in battles across Myanmar in November alone, while around 100 other members of the junta’s forces were arrested last month, said Maung Maung Swe, the deputy secretary for the Ministry of Defense for National Unity Government, or NUG, made up of former civilian leaders and other anti-junta activists. Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University, told RFA that the treatment of POWs by anti-junta fighters has been “nothing short of exceptional,” noting that many rank-and-file soldiers have been provided with money and sent home after being disarmed.

Junta troops seize orphanage during battle in central Myanmar

A junta military camp in Sagaing region’s Tamu township was abandoned by troops in November when it was captured by resistance groups, local People’s Defense Forces said. Junta soldiers sheltered in an orphanage in central Myanmar to deter resistance groups from attacking, locals and People’s Defense Forces told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday.

Ethnic Karenni forces control capital, key township in Myanmar’s Kayah state

One month since launching an offensive against Myanmar’s military in Kayah state, ethnic Karenni joint forces are in control of the regional capital Loikaw and the strategic township of Moebye, the Karenni Army said Monday. Speaking to RFA Burmese on Monday, Col. Phone Naing, the KA’s adjutant general, said the joint forces had captured “all of Moebye township” except for an area where the junta’s Battalion 422 is based, and “80% of Loikaw city.”

SAC Bombs Police Station in Namkham

On Monday, the military regime damaged scores of homes in Namkham after a jet fighter bombarded the town in northern Shan State with 500 lbs munitions. A resident who declined to be named for fear of reprisals said a State Administration Council (SAC) jet fighter, as the regime calls itself, dropped two bombs at 7:30 […]

The post SAC Bombs Police Station in Namkham appeared first on Shan Herald Agency for News.

At Least a Dozen Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Four Days of Resistance Attacks

The Irrawaddy’s latest roundup includes incidents in Shan State and Sagaing, Magwe and Tanintharyi regions.

Myanmar Resistance Forces Seize Fourth Sagaing Town

The Indaw People's Defense Force says Maw Luu town in Indaw Township has fallen after about six hours of fighting.

Resistance Seize Camps in Kyaukme Township and Mandalay Region

Resistance groups seized another State Administration Council (SAC) camp in northern Shan State. Last week, Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Mogok People’s Defense Force (PDF) captured the regime camp in Lel Gyi, Kyaukme Township. According to a local source knowledgeable about the situation fighting occurred from 5:30 am to 10 am near a suspension […]

The post Resistance Seize Camps in Kyaukme Township and Mandalay Region appeared first on Shan Herald Agency for News.

Myanmar Resistance Seizes Key Police Station in Bago Region

PDF, KNLA and BPLA forces ousted junta troops from the station in Phyu Township on the old Yangon-Naypyitaw-Mandalay highway, two hours’ drive from the capital.

Crime & Narcotics

Junta Relies on BGF recruitment drive to Defend Chinese Gangster -run Shwe Kokko New City, from Resistance Offensive

Residents report that the operations of Chinese casinos around Myawaddy and Mehtawthalay village has prompted the Military Council and BGF to enhance security to prevent potential attacks by the KNLA/KNU and PDFs. The resistance is pledged to shut down the notorious cyber-crime and scam operations, that operate in the Shwe-Kokko New City, just inside the …

The post Junta Relies on BGF recruitment drive to Defend Chinese Gangster -run Shwe Kokko New City, from Resistance Offensive appeared first on Karen News.

Myanmar becomes world’s biggest producer of opium, overtaking Afghanistan

Opium production in Afghanistan slumped an estimated 95%, according to a UN report Myanmar became the world’s biggest producer of opium in 2023, overtaking Afghanistan after the Taliban government’s crackdown on the trade, according to a United Nations report. Myanmar produced an estimated 1,080 metric tonnes of opium – essential for producing heroin – this year, according to the latest report by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Continue reading...

China issues warrants for 10 people in Myanmar’s Kokang region

China’s Ministry of Public Security has issued arrest warrants for 10 people alleged to have been involved in online scamming businesses in Myanmar’s Kokang Self-Administered Zone in northern Shan state. Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing met in Naypyidaw on Oct. 31 and agreed to form a joint task force to eradicate online scam rings in Laukkaing, Kokang’s principal township.

Economy

World Bank: Myanmar’s Growth to Fall to 1 Percent

The Myanmar Economic Monitor says rising armed conflict since October and the regime’s economic mismanagement have restricted growth.h

Ethnic Issues

Southern Brothers Army Formed as Three Resistance Forces Unite

On November 25th, SBA was collaboratively established by three Tanintharyi-based PDFs, namely, the 3rd Battalion of Kawthoolei Army (KTLA)-Htee Samei Ywa Division, Khutdaung Taman Special Column, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as reported by SBA spokesperson Ko Sai Nyi to KIC. “I believe that by uniting the currently dispersed resistance forces, it will increase …

The post Southern Brothers Army Formed as Three Resistance Forces Unite appeared first on Karen News.

SHAN NATIONAL UNITY: Will the two Shan armies’ ceasefire lead to solidarity of the whole Shan State?

The Shan people have already given up hope that the two warring Shan armies, Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), which both have the same armed wing named as Shan State Army (SSA), would stop fighting, reconcile and serve the people to fulfil their aspirations. But to their surprise […]

The post SHAN NATIONAL UNITY: Will the two Shan armies’ ceasefire lead to solidarity of the whole Shan State? appeared first on Shan Herald Agency for News.

Shan Armed Groups Broker Ceasefire

Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) have reached a ceasefire agreement. This development follows years of conflict primarily in northern Shan State, with RCSS/SSA subsequently withdrawing its troops from the northern region. RCSS/SSA Maj Sai Kham San informed SHAN that the groups “wish to cooperate” […]

The post Shan Armed Groups Broker Ceasefire appeared first on Shan Herald Agency for News.

Foreign Affairs

Australia refuses visas to soccer club owned by Myanmar junta crony

Myanmar’s Shan United FC was scheduled to play Sydney’s Macarthur FC on Nov. 30 as part of the AFC Cup, Asia’s secondary football club tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation, but was notified days earlier that its players and staff would not be granted entry to Australia. “The decision to bar entry to Shan United football club, which came ahead of its scheduled football match against Sydney-based Macarthur FC in Australia, is a modest but welcome step by the Australian Government to hold accountable those who benefit from their association with Myanmar’s criminal military,” the statement said.

EU Adds Myanmar Junta Chief’s Business Supremo to Sanctions List

Nyo Saw among six fresh targets, including a general and two arms suppliers, as the European Union tightens sanctions amid ‘grave situation’.

UK hits Myanmar border guard force colonel with sanctions – the Irrawaddy

The UK slapped sanctions on a leader of Myanmar junta-affiliated Border Guard Force (BGF) Colonel Saw Chit Thu and two others involved in the controversial Shwe Kokko new city gambling project in Karen State, over allegations of human trafficking, forced labor and human rights violations, reports the Irrawaddy. The UK said the three people sanctioned …

New UK Burma Sanctions Welcomed by Burma Campaign UK

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed new UK sanctions targeting three individuals involved in the Shwe Kokko project in Karen State, Burma. Zhijiang She, Oo Saw Min Min and Saw Chit Thu have been sanctioned for human trafficking, forced labour and human rights violations. Burma Campaign UK has been documenting human rights violations by soldiers under …

US Red-Faced as Contractor Lists Myanmar Resistance Groups in Terrorism Index

State Dept. contractor Development Services Group (DSG)'s inclusion of ethnic armies and PDFs in an annex to a US global terrorism report has been slammed for handing the junta a propaganda win.