National Unity Government wants to ‘reclaim’ Yangon and Bago
The National Unity Government (NUG) Prime Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann stated that the People’s Defence Force (PDF) would be mobilized to “reclaim” Bago and Yangon regions, according to a video released by the NUG on Sunday. Bago Region is where the Southern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters is located, while Yangon Region hosts the Yangon RMC.
“We need the [Arakan Army] and allied PDF forces [to launch] offensives in the western parts of Bago [and] extend to the east. Or, the PDFs in the central region, which includes Mandalay, Magway, and Sagaing must expand their offensives to reach Bago,” Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, told DVB. The AA, along with allied resistance forces, expanded its offensive from Arakan into Bago in December.
The Thayawady District PDF confirmed troop relocations within Bago. “Resistance forces control the Bago Range. We’re trying to cut the regime’s logistics routes and expand our offensives into the urban areas,” a source told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Zin Yaw, a Burma Army defector, stated that resistance forces need to fully control Bago to allow them to push into Yangon, which is under regime control.
Myanmar Accountability Project says 2025 to be the ‘year of justice’
Chris Gunness, the founder and director of the Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP) joined DVB on the Newsroom podcast to discuss international justice for the people of Burma and how MAP is using the legal principle of universal jurisdiction to pursue accountability for the crimes committed by the Myanmar military in courts around the world.
“We’re working to bring the generals to justice, and we’re working to make sure that your revolution will succeed in all the different ways that it must succeed,” Gunness told DVB. “The arc of history bends in the direction of justice. There is no doubt in my mind that the people of Myanmar will live in dignity. They will live in freedom. They will live free from fear. It’s really only a matter of time before we get there.”
Watch DVB Newsroom podcast season 2 episode 8 featuring Chris Gunness on the Myanmar Accountability Project and universal jurisdiction on DVB English News YouTube or Spotify. Listen to the interview on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get podcasts.
UN Special Envoy on Myanmar visits Bangladesh
The U.N. Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop met with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in the capital Dhaka on Sunday. The two discussed how to resolve the Rohingya crisis and ways to mobilize humanitarian assistance for more than one million refugees living in camps near Cox’s Bazar.
Yunus and Bishop discussed the U.N.-hosted international conference on the Rohingya crisis, set to take place later this year. “Your role will be crucial,” he told Bishop, adding that Malaysia and Finland have agreed to facilitate the conference. Bishop stressed the need to make the U.N. conference a major success, as it would be a crucial step toward resolving the crisis.
During their meeting on Feb. 23, Yunus made another appeal for support to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Arakan State and to prevent the influx of new refugees into Bangladesh. Bishop discussed the new direction in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and the upcoming visit by U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres to Bangladesh, when he will meet with Yunus and Rohingya refugees.
News by Region
BAGO—The PDF announced that three regime troops and one resistance fighter were killed in fighting after the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) attacked the military’s railway security bridge outposts No. 145, 146, 147, 148 and 149 in Kyauktaga Township of Bago Region on Tuesday. Kyauktaga is located 77 miles (123 km) north of the regional capital Bago.
The PDF announcement also stated that two grenade launchers, along with 20 rounds of ammunition, were seized by resistance forces. The KNLA Battalion 9, and its allied PDF, reportedly fired three short-range rockets at Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 264 in Peinzaloke town, eight miles (12 km) south of Kyauktaga on Feb. 25.
MAGWAY—The Chinland Defense Force-Asho told DVB that it has arrested 23 military personnel who had fled from the Natyaykan Air Defense Force Base in Ngape Township from Feb. 24-26. Ngape is located 48 miles (77 km) west of the regional capital Magway.
The AA-led forces launched an offensive to take the military base earlier this month. “All [23 regime troops] did not resist arrest when we found them hiding in the forest one mile from the outpost,” said a CDF-Asho spokesperson. A total of 20 weapons, 18 explosives, and ammunition were seized by resistance forces.
SAGAING—The Kanbalu Township People’s Defense Team under the NUG told DVB on Wednesday that four men, including one of its members, were arrested and killed by the Burma Army in Ngat Pyaw Taing village on Sunday. Kanbalu is partly controlled by the PDF under the NUG and is located 120 miles (193 km) north of the regional capital Sagaing.
“Six people, including four victims who were patrolling around the village on their motorcycles, were arrested by the military. Two were released later,” a member of the team told DVB. The PDF reported that 200 military personnel were recently relocated to Kanbalu in an attempt to retake areas of the township controlled by resistance forces.
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