Eight killed due to infighting among resistance in southern Shan State

One civilian and seven People’s Defence Force (PDF) members, including Moebye PDF leader “Aung Min,” were killed in southern Shan State’s Pekon Township during a shootout between his PDF and members of a new resistance unit called “Alpha Zone 1” on Friday. 

DVB contacted “Alpha Zone 1,” which was formed by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the PDF in Karenni State on April 20 under the command of the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC), but have received no response.

“This infighting hurts people’s confidence in the resistance,” a Moebye resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The Moebye PDF and members of “Alpha Zone 1” allegedly had a dispute over sharing revenue from land sales, according to local sources.

DVB is unable to verify this claim independently.

A Moebye PDF member told DVB on the condition of anonymity that three other PDF members were injured by “Alpha Zone 1” during a raid on their position in Moebye town on April 24. 

The KNDF had never reportedly joined forces with the Moebye PDF while it was under the command of the National Unity Government (NUG) Ministry of Defence. The Moebye PDF reportedly left the NUG on an unspecified date. 

The KNDF has been fighting against regime forces alongside local PDF in southern Shan and Karenni states since the uprising to the 2021 military coup began five years ago. 

Moebye, located 100 miles (160 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi and 11 miles (17 km) north of the Karenni State capital Loikaw, was recaptured by regime forces on July 2 but the areas surrounding the town are reportedly still under Karenni resistance control. 

Regime forces regained control of Hpasawng, located 73 miles (117 km) south of Loikaw, on Feb. 15. The regime now controls Loikaw, Bawlakhe, Hpruso, Hpasawng and Demoso towns. Mese, Shadaw and Mawchi towns remain under Karenni resistance control.

Min Aung Hlaing, inaugurated by Myanmar’s president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, placed Karenni’s Shadaw, Hpasawng and Mese townships under martial law on April 23.

The regime announced a plan to reopen the 73 mile (117 km) long Union Road connecting Hpasawng to Loikaw in a statement on Feb. 14. But the KNDF told DVB that this was “unrealistic.”

The regime’s counteroffensive to reclaim Hpasawng’s Mawchi town has been ongoing since Feb. 25. Mawchi, located 92 miles (148 km) south of Loikaw, was seized by the KNDF in 2024.