Myint Swe in ‘critical condition’ at hospital in Naypyidaw
Regime Spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told pro-regime media on Wednesday that acting President Myint Swe is receiving treatment at the No. 2 1,000-bed military hospital in Naypyidaw, dismissing rumours of his death circulating online. A National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) statement on Aug. 5 read that Myint Swe was placed in the intensive care unit at the military hospital in July.
Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing assumed the duties of acting president after Myint Swe was placed on medical leave due to his reported “neurological disorders and peripheral neuropathy” on July 18, 2024. The NDSC, which Myint Swe led since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 up to his medical leave last year, added that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and “neurodegenerative conditions.”
Myint Swe’s health problems began in early 2023, according to the NDSC statement. He became the acting president when the military ousted and jailed President Win Myint from the governing National League for Democracy (NLD) party during the 2021 coup. The retired army officer served as a vice president under State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD government from 2016-2021.
Nine killed by landslides in Karen State
Residents of Than Daung Gyi Township in Karen State told DVB that nine people were killed in landslides triggered by continuous rainfall on August 4 and 5 across eight villages. The township is located next to Bago Region, 27 miles (43 km) east of Bago’s Taungoo and 244 miles (392km) northwest of the Karen State capital Hpa-An.
“It’s still raining. Houses and ground have collapsed. We need help clearing debris and shelter materials like posts, rescue workers and drinking water,” a Than Daung Gyi resident told DVB. Twenty houses were damaged in the landslides, and search operations are still ongoing, according to rescue workers and residents.
Independent meteorologist Win Naing warned that continuous heavy rainfall in mountainous regions in the coming days could trigger further floods and landslides. At least six civilians drowned and 116 homes and shelters were destroyed by a flash flood in Laiza, Kachin State, on Monday, according to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
Ta’ang National Liberation Army criticizes regime elections
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) Spokesperson Lway Yay Oo told DVB at an online press conference on Tuesday that the regime’s December elections “will not elect” a government representative of the people. She added that the military generals will only change out of their uniforms to “masquerade” as civilians four years after staging a coup against the civilian-led NLD.
When asked if the TNLA would aid the regime to hold elections in territory under its control, Lway Yay Oo did not comment. But she claimed that the TNLA can “fully administer” all of the 12 townships it has seized since it launched Operation 1027 along with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army (AA) on Oct. 27, 2023.
The regime retook control of Nawnghkio in northern Shan State from the TNLA on July 16. The TNLA still controls Momeik, Manton, Namtu, Kutkai, Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Namhsan, Monglon, Namhkam and Mongngaw in northern Shan, as well as Mogok in Mandalay Region. All were placed under martial law on July 31. The TNLA will meet for talks with the regime this month after the previous two failed to reach any agreement.
News by Region
ARAKAN—The regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) stated on Tuesday that it has granted official political party status to the new Rakhine Nationalities Party. It added that six political parties from Arakan are now registered for elections scheduled in December.
“Those seeking positions and authority under the regime are betraying the Rakhine people and the national revolution,” a political analyst told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The AA has seized control of 14 townships since it launched an offensive on Nov. 13, 2023.
KACHIN—Laiza FM reported that residents of Laiza town had faced resurgent flooding briefly on Wednesday following a flash flood that killed at least six civilians on Monday. The KIA headquarters of Laiza is located 63 miles (101 km) south of Myitkyina along the Burma-China border.
A Laiza resident told DVB that the flood waters had receded by Tuesday. Laiza FM also reported that at least 30 acres of cropfields were destroyed by the flood waters. The KIA is reportedly repairing roads, bridges and transmission poles damaged by the water.
Sources told DVB that regime forces have been attempting to retake control of Artillery Battalion 366 from the KIA in Bhamo Township since Monday. Bhamo is located 118 miles (190 km) south of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and 56 miles (90 km) south of Laiza.
A KIA source told DVB that regime forces have used “suicide” drones since eight Burma Navy vessels reached Bhamo on Aug. 1. He added that a KIA artillery strike killed several regime troops during unloading at the Bhamo jetty. The KIA seized Artillery Battalion 366 on Feb. 5.
KAREN—A source in the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) told DVB that its Adjutant General Saw Sein Win’s home was attacked by a regime “suicide” drone, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) which explodes upon impact, in Wawlay Myaing town of Myawaddy Township on Sunday.
“[The regime] is provoking us despite our cooperation [with them],” the source told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that there were no casualties but the house was damaged. Myawaddy is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the Karen State capital Hpa-An. Read more
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