Floods displace 400 residents in southern Shan State

Aid groups in southern Shan State told DVB that at least 400 residents across two wards of Nyaungshwe Township have fled their homes after flood waters rose to two feet (0.6 metres) since June 12. Residents said that they have yet to receive assistance from regime authorities. Nyaungshwe is located 18 miles (29 km) southwest of the Shan State capital Taunggyi. 

“One-third of the town is flooded,” an aid worker told DVB on condition of anonymity, adding that residents have taken shelter temporarily in monasteries and pagoda compounds. The rain stopped over the weekend, but residents said they expect the flooding to persist for at least three more days as the nine lakes surrounding Nyaungshwe have overflowed.

Residents of villages surrounding Inle Lake also reported flooding. One resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that temporary shelters built after the March 28 earthquake have been flooded. The lake is six miles (9 km) south of Nyaungshwe and was one of the hardest hit regions during the quake. DVB documented 167 killed by the quake in Shan State. 

Over 500 students deprived of education in northern Shan

More than 500 students in Bawdwin and Kyarsakhan villages of Namtu Township in northern Shan State have been unable to receive education due to school closures since the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) took control in December 2023, according to residents. Namtu is located 41 miles (66 km) northwest of the region’s capital Lashio.

The TNLA established the Ta’ang National Education Committee (TNEC) to oversee education in areas under its control but it has yet to reopen schools in Namtu. Residents told DVB that the TNEC stated it would cost 200,000 MMK ($44.90 USD) per high school student, 150,000 MMK ($33.70 USD) per middle school student, and 100,000 MMK ($22.40 USD) per elementary school student as an annual school fee.   

The Win Myintmo mining company in Namtu has reportedly continued paying its workers an allowance despite halting operations since the TNLA seized the town. But the employees told DVB that the allowance has not been adjusted to cover school fees or rising commodity prices. The two villages, which are jointly administered by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), have over 2,500 residents. 

Two more political prisoners die at Mandalay’s Obo Prison

Two organizations in Burma working on behalf of political prisoners reported that two have died in prison due to inadequate medical care since last month. The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) shared that Maw Htoo, a political prisoner at Mandalay’s Obo Prison, died on June 13 from injuries sustained – without adequate medical care – during the March 28 earthquake. 

Forty-one political prisoners were among 64 inmates killed inside Obo Prison on March 28. PPNM added that over 140 political prisoners were injured and four lost limbs. The Women’s Organization of Political Prisoners stated that a teacher, who was jailed at Obo Prison for being a member of the anti-regime Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), died of tuberculosis on May 7 due to a lack of medical care.

PPNM shared on social media that around 200 inmates, including an unknown number of political prisoners, were beaten upon arrival at Obo Prison on June 12 following a prison transfer. Political prisoner Wai Moe Naing, who was transferred from Monywa Prison to Obo Prison on June 11, was reportedly among 50 prisoners injured by prison guards using “rubber and wooden batons,” according to PPNM. 

News by Region

CHINLAND—The Mindat Township People’s Administration Team told DVB that at least 10 civilians were killed and nearly 20 others were injured by 18 airstrikes in Mindat Township over the last six months. Mindat is located 127 miles (275 km) south of the state capital Hakha. 

“The military dropped more than 40 bombs,” Yaw Maung, a spokesperson told DVB. More than 100 buildings, including 11 religious buildings, have been destroyed in the airstrikes since January. The Chin Brotherhood took control of Mindat and Kanpetlet in southern Chinland Dec. 21-22. 

MON—The People’s Defence Force (PDF), along with the four other resistance groups, claimed that two regime officials were killed by a drone attack it launched on government offices, housing, and the ministers’ residences, in the state capital Mawlamyine on June 12.

“One drone was first launched at the state government office, followed by two more targeting the ministers’ residences. One of them struck the Attorney General’s house,” a PDF spokesperson told DVB. Four drone forces joined the PDF to carry out the attack. 

SHAN—Residents living near Inle Lake in southern Shan told DVB that regime authorities demand each village send two 18 to 35-year-old men for conscription, or must pay a bribe of 15 million MMK ($3,300 USD) per month. Inle Lake is located 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Taunggyi.

A resident told DVB that families have been paying the amount since the conscription law was enforced on Feb. 10 2024, but were not made to pay for the 30 days after the earthquake. The 15 million MMK is split with each household paying between 15,000-18,000 MMK ($3.30-4 USD).

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,530 MMK) 

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