Bamar People’s Liberation Army moves to central Myanmar

The Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA) Commander Maung Saungkha announced that his troops will soon be relocating to the “Anyar” region, which refers to the parts of Sagaing, Mandalay, and Magway regions that are mainly inhabited by the Bamar ethnic nationality. He made the announcement in a social media post to mark the first anniversary of Operation 1027 on Sunday. 

“The BPLA will soon establish a presence in the Anyar region and will be able to conduct operations there. We believe and hope that the people of Anyar will welcome us,” said Maung Saungkha, while acknowledging the leadership of the Brotherhood Alliance. “Our Spring Revolution forces have made tremendous progress under their guidance. We will never forget this debt of gratitude.”

He added that the BPLA will work with other resistance groups active in the Anyar region. Maung Saungkha is a pro-democracy activist and poet, who founded the BPLA on April 24, 2021 in response to the crackdown on peaceful anti-coup protests. He attests that the BPLA will represent the Bamar ethnic nationality in a federal democratic union of Burma. BPLA fighters have participated in Operation 1027 alongside members of the Brotherhood Alliance. 

Calls for Bangkok to rescue cyber scam victims in Karen State

The Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking issued a letter to Thai officials on Saturday urging them to help rescue 110 foreign nationals forced to work at cyber scam compounds, which are located in areas under the control of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF/KNA) in Myawaddy Township of Karen State. 

“The Chinese mafia syndicate specifically exploits the Mae Sot District as a transit hub for trafficking victims from various countries into Myanmar, taking advantage of the shared border along the Moei River.” stated the letter to Thai officials in Bangkok. “This region is primarily controlled by the BGF and DKBA, complicating rescue operations. It is increasingly difficult for Thailand to evade its responsibility to address this long-neglected issue.” 

Cyber scam compounds have brought foreign nationals to Thailand with false job offers before trafficking them across the border into Burma, where they may be forced to scam victims. Cyber scam operations have expanded in Karen State following crackdowns along the Myanmar-China border in February. The Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar (ISP Myanmar) has documented that there are nearly 50 cyber scam compounds operating along the Burma-Thailand border. 

Free newspaper distributed in Arakan State

Three journalists in Arakan State established a newspaper called Arakkadesh, which will be distributed bimonthly for free in Thandwe, Myebon, Minbya and Mrauk-U townships, where telecommunication services have been restricted. It also plans to circulate the newspaper in Kyauktaw, Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships. 

“It is difficult to get mobile phone signals [across Arakan],” Tayzar Aung, an Arakkadesh reporter, told DVB. “It costs residents at least 1,500-2,000 kyat to charge their mobile phones. The prices of fuel and other basic commodities are rising continuously and people are unable to get the right information.” 

Arrakadesh features local stories from Arakan, as well as international news. It aims to educate the public about how to avoid unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines planted during fighting between the military and the Arakan Army (AA). Telecommunications and electricity have been cut in most of the state since the AA launched its offensive on Nov. 13, 2023. Ten townships in Arakan and one in southern Chinland are under AA control. 

News by Region

AYEYARWADY—Local rescue groups and residents claimed that six bodies with gunshot wounds have been recovered from the Ngawun River in Pathein Township since Oct. 22. They claimed that the bodies were recovered after the military conducted training exercises in the river on Oct. 20. 

“The bodies of six men in their twenties and two women were recovered. Two of the men’s bodies had gunshot wounds. We were unable to identify many of the bodies,” a local rescue worker told DVB. Ayeyarwady has largely been unaffected by fighting between the military and resistance forces since the 2021 coup.  

MAGWAY—Two civilians and two People’s Defense Force (PDF) members were killed during fighting with the military in Chauk Township, located around 72 miles (116 km) north of the Magway Region capital, on Sunday. At least 4,000 villagers were displaced from their homes due to the clashes. 

“Three airstrikes occurred in three villages. Two men in their sixties who were hiding in a monastery were confirmed dead but we don’t know the extent of the casualties due to [intermittent phone] services,” a Chauk resident told DVB. Residents report that the military burned down several homes in two villages after it launched an offensive in the township last week.

MANDALAY—A couple was killed in their home by artillery fired by the military in Htanaungpinlae village near Natogyi town, which is located around 63 miles (101 km) southwest of Mandalay, on Monday. “They fired three shells indiscriminately and one of them landed on a home, killing those inside,” a PDF member told DVB. 

A fuel station was destroyed during airstrikes conducted by the Burma Air Force on two villages in Natogyi Township on Sunday. The military has been launching retaliatory airstrikes since the PDF began an offensive in the township on Aug. 10.

SHAN—Residents of Naung Wo Chaung Kyar village of Pinlaung Township told DVB that a local woman was tied up and raped by Burma Army soldiers on Saturday. The village is located in the Pa-O Self Administered Zone around 68 miles (109 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi. 

“Tying someone up and committing such an inhumane act is extremely evil,” a resident told DVB. “There is no security for women and no laws to protect them now,” a Pa-O women’s rights activist told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Fighting between the military and resistance forces in Pinlaung has been ongoing since February.

Watch our 2023 interview with Maung Saungkha: Inside a rebel camp – DVB interviews the BPLA. Subscribe to DVB English News on YouTube. Find us on X, FB, IG, Threads & TikTok.