National Unity Government meets Spring Revolution Alliance
The National Unity Government (NUG) and the Spring Revolution Alliance (SRA) stated on Saturday that it held an online meeting on Feb. 27 to begin dialogue between the civilian leadership and members of the armed resistance to the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. The SRA is a coalition of 19 armed resistance groups that are not under NUG command, according to its founding statement made on Dec. 15.
Maung Saungkha, the chief commander of the Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA), shared on social media on Feb. 27 that the two sides agreed to set aside differences and solve conflict between allied resistance forces through dialogue. NUG Minister of Defence Yee Mon discussed his ministry’s policy on local defence forces and sharing intelligence with the SRA, according to an NUG statement on Feb. 28.
Min Han Htet, the SRA spokesperson, told DVB that the newly-established force already has 10,000 members from 19 armed groups operating under a central command, via a “leading committee,” which consists of representatives from all 19 member armed groups. The BPLA, founded by Maung Saungkha in April 2021, is a founding member of the SRA, according to the Dec. 15 statement.
People’s Defence Force ‘kills’ 21 regime troops
The NUG stated on Saturday that 21 regime troops were killed by the People’s Defence Force (PDF) during fighting in Mandalay Region’s Mogok town and Shan State’s Momeik town over the last two months of fighting. Momeik is located 170 miles (273 km) west of the regional capital Lashio, and 28 miles (45 km) northeast of Mogok, which is 124 miles (200 km) north of Mandalay.
The NUG statement on Feb. 28 added that the PDF under its command have been attacking regime positions outside of Mogok and Momeik towns since December. Both towns were seized by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in July 2024 along with its allies in the PDF. But the TNLA handed over control of Mogok and Momeik to regime forces on Nov. 30, as part of a China-brokered ceasefire deal.
The PDF in Mandalay, which has fought alongside the TNLA since the launch of Operation 1027 on Oct. 27, 2023, announced on Feb. 25 that it is now a “Special Mobile Division” under the NUG Ministry of Defence. The PDF was established in Mandalay on Feb. 25, 2021, according to its fifth anniversary statement. Mogok residents told DVB that regime administration officials returned to the town in January.
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Earthquake survivors continue to struggle nearly one year later
Relief and recovery efforts remain a challenge 11 months after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, the U.N. the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Burma highlighted in its report released on Friday.
The U.N. stated that 16 percent of households nationwide — and nearly 60 percent of those living in quake hit regions — continue to face poverty, income loss and unemployment. The March 28 earthquake hit central Burma with its epicenter in Sagaing Region. The regions of Mandalay, Bago, Magway, Naypyidaw and southern Shan were five of the six hardest hit.
At least 4,477 people were killed nationwide, according to DVB data. The regime death toll is 3,773 with 653 survivors rescued from the rubble of collapsed buildings. The U.N. has documented at least 4,000 killed. Regime media reported that 48,834 houses, 3,094 monasteries and nunneries, 2,045 schools, 2,171 offices and buildings, 148 bridges, and 5,275 pagodas, were destroyed during the earthquake. Read more
News by Region
KACHIN—The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) told DVB that it seized control of sentry outposts at the regime’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 58 in Waingmaw Township and parts of LIB 236 in Bhamo Township on Feb. 25. Waingmaw and Bhamo are located 30-118 miles (48-190 km) east and south of the state capital Myitkyina.
Naw Bu, the KIA spokesperson, told DVB that fighting between the KIA and regime forces is ongoing in Bhamo and Waingmaw. Around 50 airstrikes have been carried out on 24 KIA positions from Feb. 20-23, after a drone strike on a Myanmar Airlines passenger plane at Myitkyina Airport.
KARENNI—Sources close to the Karenni resistance told DVB that regime forces reached Khehpyu village, 16 miles (25 km) east of Mawchi town, on Friday. Mawchi, located 92 miles (148 km) south of the state capital Loikaw, was seized by the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) in 2024.
Naung Yoe, a military defector, told DVB that Karenni resistance forces are struggling to stop the advancing regime counteroffensive, which recaptured Hpasawng town from the resistance on Feb. 15. Hpasawng is located 19-73 miles (30-117 km) northeast of Mawchi and south of Loikaw.
SAGAING—Residents of Pale Township told DVB that regime forces advanced on Monthwin village, six miles (9.6 km) north of Pale town, where fighting with the PDF began on Saturday. Pale, located 39 miles (62 km) southwest of the region’s capital Monywa, is partially under PDF control.
A resident who fled home due to the fighting told DVB that the battle lasted one hour. No casualties were reported. Nearly 6,000 residents have been displaced from their homes in Pale after a military attack following the surrender of Bo Nagar, the leader of the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA), on Feb. 18.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 3,875 MMK)
Watch our report, read our story, and check out our photos from the DVB Peacock Film Festival screening in Oslo, Norway, on Feb. 26.
