People’s Defence Force marks 5th year of resistance to coup

Duwa Lashi La, Acting President of the National Unity Government (NUG), said the resistance is facing political challenges and frequent territorial losses in a message marking the fifth anniversary of the formation of the NUG armed wing, the People’s Defence Force (PDF), on Tuesday. “I earnestly urge all comrades to strengthen their wisdom and resilience during the revolutionary period and to fight bravely,” he said.

The NUG Acting President’s remarks come as regime forces recaptured Sagaing Region’s Mawlu town on Tuesday and Indaw town on April 30 from the PDF. Resistance forces, including the PDF, opposed to the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 have seized 103 towns across Burma over the last five years. At least 15 of these towns have since been retaken by the military during its ongoing counteroffensive, according to DVB data.

Around 360 PDF units have been established nationwide under NUG Central Command since 2021. In addition to the PDF, the NUG oversees Local Defense Forces (LDF) and People’s Defense Teams (PDT), known by its Burmese acronym PaKaPa, which operate as localized units for security in resistance-controlled areas of Sagaing and Magway regions. The NUG has not disclosed the total number of members in PaKaPa.

Read more on DVB English News: Myanmar military retakes strategic town of Mawlu amid resistance setbacks.

Military ‘eyes’ Myanmar-India border town 

The Chin Brotherhood told DVB that regime forces have been attacking resistance positions along the 41 mile (66 km) long road connecting the Chin State capital Hakha to Falam Township, after regaining control of Falam town from resistance forces on April 25. Falam, located 41 miles (66 km) north of Hakha, had been seized by the Chin Brotherhood in April 2025.

Salai Yaw Man, the Chin Brotherhood spokesperson, told DVB that regime forces will likely launch more attacks to regain control of the Burma-India border town of Rikhawdar, which was seized by the Chin National Army (CNA) and Chinland Defence Force (CDF) on Nov. 13, 2023. Rikhawdar is a key trade hub located 106-147 miles (170-236 km) northwest and north of Falam and Hakha.

Zin Yaw, a former soldier who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) following the 2021 military coup, told DVB that logistic routes will be cut if Rikhawdar is recaptured by regime forces. No progress in reunification talks between the two Chin resistance factions, the Chin Brotherhood and the CNA, has been publicly announced since they began in India’s Mizoram State capital Aizawl on Feb. 26, 2025. 

India’s Navy Chief Dinesh Kumar Tripathi with Burma’s Commander-in-Chief Ye Win Oo in Naypyidaw on May 4. (Credit: Regime)

Border and maritime security ‘to be strengthened’

Burma’s new Commander-in-Chief, Ye Win Oo, received a delegation led by India’s Navy Chief Dinesh Kumar Tripathi in the capital Naypyidaw on Monday. Regime media reported that the two are set to discuss measures to “enhance border security” and “to clear the 1,020 mile (1,643 km) long Burma-India border of terrorists” May 2-5.

The Indian Navy spokesperson stated that the two also discussed enhancing maritime security in the Bay of Bengal, as well as defence ties between the Burma and India navies, armies and air forces. Six Ukrainians and one U.S. citizen were arrested in India on March ​13 for illegally entering its northeastern Mizoram State after crossing into Burma to train unnamed armed resistance groups on drone warfare. 

Residents of Sagaing Region’s Pansaung Township, located in the Naga Self-Administered Zone (SAZ), told DVB that one home was destroyed by a drone strike carried out by India on Feb. 1. No casualties were reported. The Burma-India border is 1,020 miles (1,643 km) long and spans India’s Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur states, as well as Burma’s Sagaing Region and Chin State.

News by Region

ARAKAN—Aid workers in Sittwe Township told DVB that 10,000 residents from 20 villages displaced from their homes since May 2024 have been facing food shortages at temporary shelters set up for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at over 50 monasteries since September. 

The regime administration provided 60,000 MMK ($14.30 USD) and 14.89 kg of rice to each IDP in Sittwe for three months in September and another 11.91 kg of rice in February. Aid workers added that IDPs in Sittwe need job opportunities, security, healthcare, and financial support.

KAREN—Residents of Kawkareik Township told DVB that the cost for a National Registration Card is 50,000-100,000 MMK ($11-22 USD) after the regime’s Department of Immigration and Population announced it was free on April 28. Kawkareik is located 56 miles (90 km) east of the state capital Hpa-An.

One resident told DVB that the fees depended on the individual’s ethnic or religious background with Muslims, Hindus, or ethnic Chinese paying the most. DVB is unable to verify this claim independently. Karen’s Kawkareik and Kyainseikgyi towns were placed under martial law on April 23. 

MANDALAY—Residents of Taungtha Township told DVB that a 48-year-old Buddhist monk was killed by an unknown gunman at his monastery in Chaungpauk village on Saturday. Taungtha, located 82 miles (132 km) southwest of Mandalay, is partially controlled by the PDF.

A resident told DVB that the monk had no connections to any armed group or the military. Regime media has not reported on the murder of the monk. Over 70 homes were destroyed in Taungtha’s Paekhinkyaw village during an arson attack allegedly carried out by regime forces in December.

SAGAING—Residents of Mingin Township told DVB that they want the People’s Administration Team (PAT) under the NUG to release Khin Thu Thu Lwin, a physician who joined the CDM after the 2021 coup and was arrested on Nov. 30. A resident told DVB that she has been refused bail. 

The Mingin PAT told DVB that Khin Thu Thu Lwin had her first hearing at the NUG’s Ye-U Township court in March. She has been accused of embezzling 330 million MMK ($78,000 USD) of taxpayers’ money. Ye-U and Mingin are located 55-114 miles (88-183 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa. 

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,195 MMK)

Read our latest DVB English News op-ed by James Shwe: US Congress can apply the Iran sanctions model to Myanmar.