Homes destroyed by wind and rain in Yangon Region
Residents of Thanlyin and Seikkyi Kanaungto townships in Yangon Region told DVB that an unknown number of homes were either destroyed or damaged by heavy wind and rains on Saturday. Thanlyin and Seikkyi Kanaungto are located 9-23 miles (14-37 km) south of the region’s capital Yangon.
“The wind hit too hard during the rain. Roofs of homes were damaged. No one was harmed but it caused a lot of destruction,” a Thanlyin resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. No casualties were reported in either township, according to the Fire Services Department.
The regime’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has issued a warning for more rain and thunderstorms with a risk of floods, strong winds, and landslides across the country until Nov. 6. This is due to a depression formed over the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. Surface winds may reach 35 to 40 miles (56 to 64 km) per hour.
Intensifying attacks by regime forces in Mandalay Region
Residents of Madaya and Singu townships in Mandalay Region told DVB that one resident from each town was killed and an unspecified number of civilians were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Thursday. The two towns are located 25-58 miles (40-93 km) north of Mandalay.
The People’s Defence Force (PDF) told DVB that regime forces have intensified airstrikes in Madaya and Singu since Naypyidaw reached a Chinese-brokered ceasefire agreement with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) on Oct. 29. “They’ve used four fighter jets per attack. They used only one before,” a Singu resident told DVB. The PDF seized Singu and 35 regime outposts in Madaya in July 2024.
The PDF told DVB that it took over positions in Mandalay Region’s Mogok Township, 124 miles (200 km) north of Mandalay, on Oct. 30 after the TNLA agreed to withdraw its troops from Mogok and Momeik Township in northern Shan State under the ceasefire deal. The TNLA and its allied resistance forces captured Mogok and Momeik in July 2024.
A screengrab from the regime’s election campaign video released on Oct. 28 – the first day of the election campaign for political parties. (Credit: UEC)
Two more film directors arrested for criticism of elections
Regime media reported on Friday that two film directors named Aung Chan Lu and Zabu Tun Thet Lwin, who criticized an election campaign video made by the Union Election Commission (UEC) on social media, were arrested at their homes in Yangon. They have been charged under the Election Protection Law, which was enacted on July 29, for “disrupting the elections”,
“We have taken action against a total of 88 people who have violated the law,” Tun Tun Naung, the regime Minister of Home Affairs, said at a Central Committee on Security Supervision for the Election meeting in Naypyidaw on Oct. 31. Among the 88 charged under the Election Protection Law are 83 men and five women, according to the regime. Film director Mike Tee and two actors were charged on Oct. 28.
The Election Protection Law carries a minimum sentence of three years in prison up to the maximum sentence of the death penalty. The ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) party called on the international community not to recognize the regime’s “sham” elections. The National Unity Government (NUG), a group of elected lawmakers ousted in the 2021 coup, called on citizens to reject the polls.
News by Region
ARAKAN—At least 12 civilians were killed and 31 were injured by airstrikes in Sittwe, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Kyaukpyu and Pauktaw townships since Thursday, the Arakan Army (AA) stated. It added that the regime has targeted civilians with airstrikes, accusing it of committing “war crimes.”
At least 15 civilians were killed by regime airstrikes in Rathedaung and Ponnagyun on Oct. 30, residents told DVB. The UEC announced that the first phase of its planned elections was set to take place on Dec. 28 in Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung townships, which are under regime control. Read more
MANDALAY—The PDF began recruiting “security” officers in Mogok Township on Friday. A PDF spokesperson told DVB that it would fight to keep the lucrative ruby mining town under resistance control after the TNLA withdrew from the town as a part of its ceasefire deal with the regime.
A politician from Sagaing Region told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the security of Mogok is “vital.” The UEC has announced that regime elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28 will not be held in Natogyi, Singu, and Mogok which are under PDF control. The region has a total of 28 townships.
MON—The UEC reported that the first phase of the regime elections on Dec. 28 will have 256 candidates in Kyaikto, Thaton, Mawlamyine, Chaungzon, and Kyaikmaraw townships. The military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will have candidates in all 45 constituencies, according to the UEC.
Others include the National Interest and Development Party in 44, the National Unity Party (NUP) in 42, the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) in 30, the Mon Unity Party (MUP) in 38, the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party in 13, the Pa-O National Development and Progress Party in 10, the People’s Party in 28, and the Myanmar Farmers’ Development Party in three.
SAGAING—Residents in Pale Township told DVB that the regime airlifted nearly 600 troops into its outpost on Oct. 30-31. Regime forces are stationed in Pale’s Inmahti, Zeephyukone, Kandaung, and Mintinepin villages. Pale is located 39 miles (62 km) south of the region’s capital Monywa.
A PDF member told DVB that the regime may launch a counteroffensive from Pale on Salingyi, Yinmabin, and Kani townships, as well as Myaing and Pauk townships in neighboring Magway Region. The UEC has not included 10 out of Sagaing’s total 37 townships, including Pale, in the regime elections.
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