Two children killed by airstrike in Mandalay Region
Residents of Mogok Township in Mandalay Region told DVB that two children were killed and six others were injured by an airstrike carried out by the Burma Air Force on the town, which is under Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) control, on Sunday. Mogok, known for its ruby mining industry, is located 124 miles (200 km) northeast of the region’s capital Mandalay.
“The children who died were only five-years-old,” a resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. One of the critically injured was transferred to Mandalay General Hospital, according to residents. Mogok came under TNLA control on July 23, 2024. It confirmed the airstrikes on its social media account but reported no dead and six injured, including the two children.
The TNLA claimed that seven civilians have been killed and 36 have been injured in a total of nine airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force. Since June 29, including the one airstrike on Mogok, Kyaukme Township has been hit six times, and one strike each has been carried out on Thoneze village of Nawnghkio Township and on Hsipaw Township in northern Shan State. The three towns in northern Shan are also under TNLA control.
Central Bank sells $1.7 million to edible oil industries
The regime-controlled Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) sold over $1.7 million USD to edible oil-importing companies on Friday, regime media reported. A day earlier, it sold more than $1.5 million USD — sourced from garment factories operating under the cutting, making, and packing (CMP) system — to the same group of importers.
The CBM announced on July 8 that it would sell $30 million USD to fuel businesses, following a $33 million USD injection into the sector on July 1. It sells U.S. dollars online to fuel and import businesses at a rate of 3,500 MMK per dollar, while the parallel market rate is approximately 4,500 MMK per dollar.
The regime in Naypyidaw announced a plan to offer 50 billion MMK ($11 million USD) in loans to edible oil manufacturers in an apparent attempt to develop the industry in July 2023. But business owners told DVB that the scheme has been hindered by “complex procedures,” resulting in only about four billion MMK ($900,000 USD) being disbursed since then.
India-Myanmar border town residents return home
The Chin National Army (CNA) Spokesperson Salai Htet Ni told DVB that more than 3,000 residents of Rikhawdar have returned to their homes on Saturday. They had fled fighting between the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram and the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) into India’s Mizoram State. Rikhawdar, located 147 miles (236 km) north of the state capital Hakha, came under CNA control on Nov. 13, 2023.
“We don’t know exactly why [CNDF] withdrew their forces,” Salai Htet Ni told DVB. The CNA forces, which include the Chinland Defense Force-Hualngoram, are currently deployed in Rikhawdar. Fighting between the CNDF, which is allied to the other faction of the Chin resistance known as the Chin Brotherhood, and the CDF-Hualngoram began on July 2. The CNDF seized control and held the town from July 5-12.
The National Unity Government (NUG), the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), as well as Chin religious and civil society groups have called for a “peaceful way” to discuss territorial control rather than through armed conflict. Talks between the CNA and the CNDF are underway with the mediation of Advocacy Group for Peace, led by the Mizoram State Chief Minister Lalduhoma, according to the CNA.
News by Region
BAGO—Residents of Yedashe Township told DVB that at least 50 homes located along the Yangon–Mandalay highway have been flooded since Friday. Runoff from nearby mountains swept through the area, but no casualties were reported as residents had evacuated in advance.
The regime Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported that the Sittaung River reached danger levels of 36 feet (1,086 cm) in Madauk town of Nyaunglebin Township on July 14. Madauk is 113 miles (182 km) south of Yedashe, which is 142 miles (228 km) north of the region’s capital Bago.
Three people were arrested in Bago for an alleged scam using KBZpay, the KBZ Bank mobile application, on July 4. The three are accused of operating a social media-based shop called “Chue Chue,” which blocked customers after receiving payments from them via KBZPay.
“At least five customers were defrauded in online shopping scams in Bago,” a resident told DVB, adding that complaints went unanswered at KBZ Bank. Multiple KBZPay accounts were used to reportedly defraud customers under the guise of assisting them in setting up accounts.
MANDALAY—A People’s Defence Force (PDF) member told DVB that thousands of residents fled their homes when regime forces with the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 415 set fire to nearly 400 homes in Nyaung-U Township July 8-12. Nyaung-U is located 111 miles (km) west of Mandalay.
The source added that the military had tightened security ahead of Min Aung Hlaing’s reported travel to the town later this month. Sources told DVB that nearly 30 regime troops were killed by the PDF, which lost 11 of its members during fighting in Nyaung-U District from June 30 to July 2.
YANGON—The Federation of Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association will inspect gold shops in the region, and those selling online, to ensure compliance with the new gold weight system, which mandates that transactions be based on 16.33 grams per tical of pure gold.
The new weight system and the sale of gold that matches the quality specified on the voucher is mandatory. Those who fail to comply face up to three years in prison. The Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association reported that 1,500 goldsmiths have applied for licences.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,470 MMK)
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