Military wants new ‘dialogue’ with armed groups
Regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reportedly invited ethnic armed groups to initiate dialogue with the military during a speech delivered in Naypyidaw on Tuesday. He briefed those in attendance on developments in the country over the last five years since he led a military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 that ousted the National League for Democracy (NLD) administration, that governed Burma from 2016-21, and jailed its leaders.
Richard Horsey, the senior advisor on Burma at the International Crisis Group (ICG), told DVB that Min Aung Hlaing wants “resistance forces to surrender,” adding that the National Unity Government (NUG), established by ethnic nationality leaders and NLD lawmakers elected in 2020 but ousted in 2021, will not discuss peace with the military without setting preconditions around a genuine dialogue that leads towards federalism.
Min Aung Hlaing stated that peace talks with ethnic armed groups who are signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) have been held 89 times and 25 times with “non-signatories” since 2021. He promised that “state authority” will be transferred to the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) administration in April after parliament convenes on March 16 for the first time since the 2021 coup.
A ‘Federal Steering Council’ established by resistance?
A source close to the NUG told DVB on the condition of anonymity that an online meeting was held with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and the Chin National Front (CNF), to discuss the establishment of a “Federal Steering Council” on an unspecified date last week after a previous meeting in February.
“We believe that effective political leadership is needed at this time. We need a framework that can guide us to a practical political approach in order to win the revolution,” Aung San Myint, the KNPP Secretary 1, told DVB. Aung Thu Nyein, an independent political analyst, told DVB that this council is expected to bring together the NUG and all ethnic armed groups opposed to the 2021 military coup.
Nay Phone Latt, the NUG spokesperson told DVB that the NUG is still meeting with the KIO, KNU, KNPP, and CNF to discuss the formation of a “Federal Steering Council” and can’t comment any further. KIO Deputy Chairperson Gunmaw Sumlut stated on Feb. 5 that a “strong union government” will emerge when discussions conclude between the NUG and the four ethnic armed groups.
PDF may lose final piece of territory in Mandalay ‘within days’
Analysts and frontline sources told DVB that the People’s Defence Force (PDF) under NUG command may have to retreat from Tagaung town – its last remaining territory in Mandalay Region – due to a military counteroffensive. Tagaung, located 131 miles (210 km) north of the region’s capital Mandalay, was seized by the PDF in August 2024.
“We could lose Tagaung in the next two days,” a PDF member on the frontline in Mandalay Region told DVB on the condition of anonymity on March 10, adding that regime forces arrived at Sinnyatgone village, around four miles (6 km) south of Tagaung, on March 9. The NUG and the PDF in Mandalay did not respond to a DVB request for comment.
Zin Yaw, a former soldier who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) following the 2021 coup, told DVB that Tagaung is “strategic” due to its location on the bank of the Irrawaddy River. He calls it a “doorway” to PDF-controlled areas in Sagaing Region. Tigyaing and Indaw towns are located 30-72 miles (48-115 km) north of Tagaung. He added that thousands of residents were evacuated by the PDF from Tagaung on March 8.
News by Region
BAGO—At least 10 regime troops were killed and 20 other regime troops were injured by the PDF and its allied Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) during a rescue operation of over 300 civilians used as “human shields” in Yei Twin Gone village tract of Nyaunglebin Township on an unspecified date, according to the NUG.
At least 11 PDF and KNLA members were reported killed during fighting in Nyaunglebin. The Karen National Union (KNU) accused regime forces of killing 30 civilians and detaining 160 others in Yei Twin Gone village tract on March 9. Nyaunglebin, located 50 miles (80 km) north of the region’s capital Bago, is in KNU Brigade 3 territory.
KAREN—Nearly 30,000 liters of fuel suspected of being stored for “illegal smuggling” into Myawaddy was seized across the border in Mae Sot, Tak Province of Thailand, media reported. Myawaddy is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the state capital Hpa-An and seven miles (11 km) from Mae Sot.
Thai authorities suspended fuel sales to people from Burma on March 9 after many crossed into Thailand to buy cheaper fuel in Mae Sot and in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai Province, last week. The regime claimed on March 4 that Burma has a 40-day fuel reserve and will not face shortages.
TANINTHARYI—A total of six civilians, including three under the age of 11, were killed and three other children were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on a makeshift school in Taphilaykho village of Palaw Township on Monday. Palaw is located 98 miles (157 km) south of the region’s capital Dawei.
“Children were attending summer classes when the airstrikes occurred,” Eh Nar, the Karen National Union (KNU) secretary for the districts of Myeik and Dawei, told DVB. Taphilaykho village is located in KNU Brigade 4 territory. An unknown number of airstrikes have targeted KNU-controlled territory.
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