Airstrikes kill four civilians in Mandalay Region’s Mogok
Residents of Mogok in Mandalay Region told DVB that at least four civilians were killed and nine others were injured during airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on five locations in the township on Tuesday. Mogok, located 124 miles (200 km) northeast of Mandalay, was seized by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in July 2024.
“We’re conducting rescue operations now. It’s raining heavily and we’re worried that aircraft might return [to carry out more strikes],” a Mogok resident told DVB. The TNLA released a statement confirming the civilian casualties, stating that the Air Force dropped a total of five bombs: “three 500-pound bombs” and “two 250-pound bombs.”
The TNLA added that 18 homes were either damaged or destroyed by bomb fragments in Mogok. It claimed that four men and two children have been killed, and 25 civilians have been injured, by airstrikes on July 8, 9, 11, and 26. A total of 24 civilian homes were either damaged or destroyed in these earlier attacks by regime forces.
New laws enacted and amended by regime in Naypyidaw
The Military Secrets Protection Law was enacted by the regime on Monday. It states that former military personnel who work as private security guards without permission from the Ministry of Defence could face 3-10 years in prison. Current or former military personnel working for any organization “that is not a military entity of a foreign country” may face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The law also prohibits anyone other than current or former military personnel from obtaining or using any military secret by any means, or from working for or acting on behalf of any foreign government, military organization, or any other non-military entity. It stipulates that violations are punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.
A new clause was added to Chapter 3 of the Political Parties Registration Law. It states that if the Union Election Commission (UEC) finds that a political party has committed electoral fraud or unlawful conduct it can be banned. Claims of voter fraud in the 2020 elections were used as a pretext for the 2021 military coup. This is the second amendment to the law, which was adopted in 2023.
Benedict Rogers on becoming Fortify Rights’ new senior director
British human rights activist and journalist Benedict Rogers was recently-appointed as the new senior director at Fortify Rights, a regional human rights organization with a focus on Burma. He joined us in the DVB Newsroom to discuss his new role and how international justice and accountability can be pursued on behalf of the people in Myanmar.
“I have been working on Myanmar for about 25 years. I’ve visited Myanmar and the border areas I think more than 60 times. I was deported from Myanmar in the past not once but twice,” Rogers told DVB. “I will continue to work for a genuine federal democracy and genuine peace and freedom for all the people of Myanmar.”
Watch the Newsroom interview Benedict Rogers on becoming Fortify Rights’ new senior director on DVB English News YouTube or Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get podcasts. Our 2024 Newsroom interview with Fortify Rights Director John Quinley on international justice for Myanmar military crimes is also available on-demand.
News by Region
BAGO—Aid workers told DVB that three residents of Taungoo District drowned in floodwater as the Sittaung River overflowed on Monday. Two of the bodies were recovered on the same day. Taungoo is located 133 miles (214 km) north of the region’s capital Bago.
Food aid, clean water, and boats were requested by aid workers. The regime’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology warned residents to evacuate low-lying areas as towns in Bago Region, as well as Shan State, Karen State, and Mon State were flooded on Monday.
KACHIN—Residents of Shwegu Township told DVB that the 17-vessel Burma Navy fleet travelling along the Irrawaddy River was attacked by resistance forces on Sunday. Shwegu is located 181 miles (291 km) south of the state capital Myitkyina.
A People’s Defence Force (PDF) member told DVB that the naval fleet is stuck in Shwegu and unable to continue its journey toward Bhamo Township, located 64 miles (102 km) east along the river, where it’s reportedly transporting reinforcements to regime forces. Read more
KAREN—Over 6,000 residents of Hpa-An Township were evacuated to nine temporary shelters as the Thanlwin River exceeded five feet (165 cm) over the town’s critical threshold on Tuesday. An aid worker told DVB that the regime has provided rice to feed those at the shelters.
Flooding was reported in Myawaddy Township, located 82 miles (132 km) east of the state capital Hpa-An, as the Thaungyin (Moei) River overflowed on Monday. Myawaddy recently faced flooding July 23-25. No casualties have been reported in either town.
SHAN—Residents of Pindaya Township told DVB that eight people drowned in floodwaters on July 27-28. Over 80 homes and three bridges were also destroyed by the rain and mountain runoff. Pindaya is located 50 miles (80 km) west of the state capital Taunggyi.
“People are facing difficulties in finding transportation [to leave their homes],” a Pindaya resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. An unknown number of homes in neighbouring Lawksawk Township were also flooded but the water has since decreased.
Aid workers in southern Shan State told DVB that over 40,000 residents of Pekon Township were forced to flee their homes into neighbouring Nanmekhon town of Demoso Township in Karenni State due to a regime counteroffensive which began on July 24.
Zayyar Tun, a member of the charity group Clean Yangon, told DVB that they were still helping residents evacuate their homes on July 28. Pekon is located 19 miles (30 km) north of Nanmekhon and 111 miles (178 km) south of Taunggyi. Read more
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,460 MMK)
