Military attacks Sagaing Region’s Pale after surrender of Bo Nagar
A People’s Defence Force (PDF) member told DVB that over 100 regime troops launched an attack on Pale and Yinmabin townships in Sagaing Region following the surrender of Bo Nagar, the leader of the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA), on Wednesday. Yinmabin and Pale are located 28-39 miles (45-62 km) west and southwest of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.
A PDF member in Pale told DVB that regime forces carried out attacks on two villages in northern Pale under BNRA control and have yet to engage in battle with resistance forces in southern Pale on Feb. 19. No casualties have been reported. The PDF warned residents that regime forces were looking to arrest remaining BNRA members.
The National Unity Government (NUG) claimed that around 150 BNRA members joined the PDF and surrendered their weapons. It urged others in the BNRA to do so. Nay Phone Latt, the NUG spokesperson, told DVB that PDF members “wanted to arrest” Bo Nagar and other BNRA members accused of murder, assault, and the sexual abuse of minors. Read more
Kyi Pyar ‘not guilty’ of corruption, NUG finds
The NUG Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated on Wednesday that it has found its permanent secretary Kyi Pyar “not guilty” of alleged corruption and embezzlement after she and her husband Nyi Nyi Min were accused of those two charges along with accusations of mismanagement and sexual harassment in the workplace by 12 former PMO staff members on Nov. 19, 2025.
The NUG “strongly warned” Kyi Pyar against speaking harshly to her staff in the PMO, according to its Feb. 18 statement. The 12 former PMO staff members claimed that the NUG statement was “not thorough” and that they will present their evidence to the public for “justice.” The NUG statement didn’t mention the other accusations of mismanagement and sexual harassment.
The NUG temporarily suspended Kyi Pyar from duty and started its investigation on Nov. 24, 2025. It has been criticized online for a perceived lack of action against Kyi Pyar and responded that it would complete its investigation by December. Kyi Pyar filed defamation charges against the 12 complainants, accusing them of “leaking state secrets” on Feb. 4.
Thailand pushes for peace process in Myanmar
Thailand hopes to play a role in bringing Burma’s regime leaders back into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) five years after the military seized power in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021, according to Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow who met with Burma regime Foreign Minister Than Swe in Phuket, Thailand on Wednesday.
“Thailand wants to be a bridge connecting Myanmar back to ASEAN,” Sihasak told media at a press conference in Phuket on Feb. 18. “Myanmar must help Thailand as well by responding to ASEAN’s concerns, such as starting a dialogue process, which is a good thing; reducing violence; avoiding attacks on civilians,” he added,
Regime media reported that the two discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, education and public health, as well as joint efforts to combat transnational crime, including illegal trade, online scams, human and drug trafficking. Regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing agreed to the ASEAN Five Point Consensus peace plan in April 2021 but never implemented it upon his return to Naypyidaw. Read more
News by Region
NAYPYIDAW—Sources close to the regime in Naypyidaw told DVB that recently retired soldiers will dominate key positions in the next Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) led “government” that will be formed in April following military-run elections which ended on Jan. 25.
“The president, and the ministers for foreign affairs, and planning and finance will be ex-soldiers,” a source told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced last month that the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will convene next month. Read more
SAGAING—Around 250 residents from five villages protested in Tamu Township against forced recruitment by the PDF on Monday and Tuesday, local media outlet Chin World reported. Tamu is located along the Burma-India border 210 miles (338 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa.
A PDF spokesperson told Chin World that action would be taken against its members if there were verified cases of forced recruitment. He added that villagers in Tamu were asked to provide 3-5 recruits to the PDF, which led to the protests. The PDF denies it is involved in forced recruitment in Tamu.
YANGON—A banker told DVB on the condition of anonymity that due to daily cash withdrawal limits imposed by the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) since Feb. 5, banks receive one-tenth of the amount needed. He added that “underdeveloped” infrastructure makes online banking ineffective.
The CBM Governor Than Than Swe told a meeting with businesspeople in Yangon that he wants to restrict price speculation in U.S. dollar and gold markets. A seafood exporter told DVB that he had to spend three business days visiting his KBZ Bank to withdraw 140 million MMK ($35,800 USD) to pay his suppliers.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 3,900 MMK)
