Thirteen resistance members arrested in Sagaing Region
The National Unity Government (NUG) administration in Kanni Township, Sagaing Region, told DVB that it arrested 13 of its members, including those from the People’s Administration Team (PAT), the People’s Defense Team and the People’s Defense Force (PDF), on Sunday. Kanni, located 40 miles (64 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa, was seized by the PDF and came under NUG administration in 2023.
“They were [detained] for questioning due to the alleged misuse of public funds,” a member of the NUG Interim local public administration central committee told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The 13 are currently under investigation for allegedly mismanaging over five billion MMK ($ 1,146,788 USD) of public funds and are being held at the Yinmabin District Command of the NUG Ministry of Defense.
Nay Phone Latt, the NUG Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, told DVB that the investigation began after complaints were received by the public. Sources close to the NUG claimed that at least 10 resistance members have been detained and placed under investigation since June for alleged mismanagement of taxes collected at checkpoints operated by members of the PDT and PDF in Kanni.
Regime set to launch counteroffensive in Chinland
Members of the Chin resistance told DVB that the regime has been amassing a force of 2,000 troops to launch a counteroffensive against towns in Chinland under resistance control since Aug. 20. Chinland has nine townships with regime forces only controlling the state capital Hakha, and Tedim Township 117 miles (188 km) north of Hakha, with partial control of Thantlang Township 22 miles (35 km) west of Hakha.
Salai Timmy, the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) spokesperson, told DVB that the regime plans to mobilize its 2,000 troops from Saw town in Magway Region into Mindat, Matupi, and Kanpetlet townships in southern Chinland. These three townships were seized by the Chin Brotherhood and were among 63 placed under martial law on July 31. They are located 171-189 miles (275-304 km) south of Hakha.
The Chinland Defence Force (CDF) announced on Aug. 20 the closure of all the roads connecting Magway Region to southern Chinland’s Kanpetlet Township, which was seized by the Chin Brotherhood on Dec. 22. Local media reported that the Burma Air Force carried out two airstrikes and destroyed five homes in Kanpetlet on Aug. 17 but no casualties were reported.
UN optimistic about upcoming conference on Rohingya
The U.N. released a statement on Monday to mark Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day. On Aug. 25, 2017, thousands of Rohingya civilians were killed and over 700,000 fled their homes to safety in neighbouring Bangladesh due to military “clearance operations.” In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, a conference on the Rohingya refugee crisis was held Aug. 24-25 to precede the U.N. high-level conference in September.
“The Secretary-General is hopeful that the 30 September High–level Conference on Rohingya and other minorities in New York, as mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, will draw renewed international attention to the urgency of finding durable solutions [to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh],” said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.
Since last year, another 150,000 Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh, according to the U.N. Dujarric added that in Arakan State they have been subjected to “forced recruitment and human rights violations” as fighting between the military and the Arakan Army (AA) has escalated. Amnesty International accused the AA of committing extrajudicial killings, torture, and forced labor against Rohingya civilians in northern Arakan.
News by Region
Residents of Mrauk-U Township, Arakan State, inspect a bomb crater caused by an airstrike on Aug. 25. (Credit: CJ)
ARAKAN—Residents of Mrauk-U Township told DVB that at least 12 civilians were killed and 21 others were injured by two airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Daikyi Ward on Monday. Mrauk-U, located 88 miles (142 km) northeast of the state capital Sittwe, was seized by the AA in February 2024.
A resident told DVB that children were among the 12 killed in the airstrikes but did not disclose the exact number. The AA claimed that a total of 28 people, including children, were killed and 25 were injured during airstrikes on an undisclosed location near Ram Creek in Mrauk-U on Jan. 18.
KAREN—Residents of Myawaddy Township told DVB that over 300 regime troops deployed near the No. 2 Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge on Sunday. A military source said that the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 275 was reinforced. Myawaddy is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the state capital Hpa-An.
A resident told DVB that fighting between regime forces and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) was reported along the Kyondoe-Kawkareik-Myawaddy road. To date, the KNLA has seized the regime’s Infantry Battalions 355, 356, and an outpost in Thingannyinaung village.
YANGON—Sources close to the regime told DVB that it plans to provide security at 12 district level townships, including Kamayut, Kyauktada, Taikkyi, Twante, South Dagon, Botahtaung, Mayangon, Mingaladon, Hmawbi, Thingangyun, Thanlyin and Alone, during the first day of elections on Dec. 28.
“We have been promised by the military officials that there will be funds and jobs for the people who provide security during the election period,” a member of the regime’s People’s Security and Anti-Terrorism group told DVB on the condition of anonymity. He added that training and food will also be provided.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,360 MMK)
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