Military launches counteroffensive in Mandalay Region
Regime forces launched a counteroffensive to retake Twinnge and 7-Mile villages located along the Mandalay-Myitkyina Road in Thabeikkyin Township of Mandalay Region earlier this month, frontline sources told DVB. Thabeikkyin is located 90 miles (144 km) north of the region’s capital Mandalay. Twinnge village has been under the control of resistance forces since Aug. 17, and Thabeikkyin town since Aug. 25.
“Clashes occur daily at 7-Mile [village]. We’ve managed to shoot down three regime drones,” Nini Kyaw, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) general secretary told DVB. She added that the bombs dropped by drone are the size of a five-pound thermal flask and cause widespread destruction. The PLA is fighting alongside resistance forces in Thabeikkyin.
The Advanced Training Depot 13 near Twinnge village, the Basic Military Training Camp 2 in 7-Mile village, and technical units stationed in Kyaukkyi village in Mandalay are still under regime control. The military regained lost territory in Twinnge village in December. Both regime and resistance forces are now stationed about 50 metres apart.
Kachin Independence Army to resolve disputes in northern Shan
The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) told DVB that it will meet with residents of Mantong, Momeik, Namtu and Kutkai townships in northern Shan State, as well as leaders from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), to resolve tensions between two ethnic armed groups.
“We will meet with the people of northern Shan state, along with leaders from [TNLA], in order to find a solution,” Naw Bu, the KIA spokesperson told DVB. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) General Sumlut Gun Maw posted on social media that the results of the meeting will be shared after it meets with the TNLA.
Kutkai residents urged the armed groups to resolve their dispute. TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo told DVB that a meeting was held with the KIA on March 3 but gave no details. Kutkai is under TNLA control and located 47 miles (75 km) north of the regional capital Lashio. Six civilians, including two KIA members in civilian attire, were killed by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in Kutkai on March 5.
Regime to resume overseas employment with stricter rules
The regime Ministry of Labour announced on Monday that the issuance of Overseas Worker Identification Cards (OWIC) will resume on March 20. The regime in Naypyidaw restricted men, aged 18 to 35, who are eligible for military service under the conscription law, from signing contracts for work abroad on Jan. 31. The OWIC issuance process was suspended on Feb. 14.
“I think the age restriction for men will remain in place. Although they are resuming OWIC issuance, it looks like the process will be stricter than before,” a worker at an overseas employment agency told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The announcement did not specify whether the 18 to 35 age restriction is still in effect. The ministry keeps detailed information about the OWIC holder.
It further instructed OWIC holders to apply for permission from the regime Department of Labour online at least five working days before departing for overseas employment starting on March 17. The ministry will announce the list of permitted workers on its Telegram channel “Safe Migration.” Under the 1999 Foreign Employment Law, migrant workers must hold an OWIC with a five-year term to travel overseas.
News by Region
NAYPYIDAW—China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun met with Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw on Tuesday, and regime Deputy Prime Minister Than Swe on Monday. Deng mediated peace talks between the regime and the TNLA in China last month. He is expected to oversee another round of talks in April.
Deng Xijun’s meetings revolved around the regime’s planned elections, the peace process, and transnational crime, including drug smuggling and cyber scams operating along the Burma-China border. Min Aung Hlaing announced that elections would be held as early as this December or in January 2026, during a visit to Belarus on March 7.
BAGO—Pyay Township residents told DVB that the regime administration has forcibly conscripted men aged 18 to 35 from the Muslim and Hindu communities into military service since January. Pyay is located 180 miles (289 km) northwest of the region’s capital Bago.
“An administrator in the town made a list of names of men who are Muslim and Hindu. Then, he sent the list to the military for conscription,” a Pyay resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Residents claimed that some of these men don’t have National Identification Cards.
A source from the Pyay Township police station told DVB that they have been told to collect around 300 men from different religions to be conscripted this month. The source added that 30 people were arrested on Jan. 6 and have been held inside the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 959 awaiting conscription orders.
ARAKAN—The U.N. reported that 4,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Kyaukpyu Township since late February due to fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and regime forces. Over 20,000 residents of Kyaukphyu and Sittwe townships are in urgent need of food aid and medical attention.
“Some 60 villages in Ponnagyun Township [are] facing severe drinking water shortages due to the dry season,” the U.N. added. On March 4, a child was injured by an unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Minbya Township. There are over 3.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) nationwide, according to the U.N.
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