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People’s Defense Force claims full control of Thabeikkyin; China strengthens security along border

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The People’s Defense Force displays weapons and ammunition seized after capturing a military camp in Thabeikkyin Township on Aug. 25. (Credit: Mandalay PDF)

People’s Defense Force claims full control of Thabeikkyin

The People’s Defense Force (PDF) claimed that it had seized control of Thabeikkyin, 89 miles (143 km) north of Mandalay, from the military on Sunday. The PDF added that regime troops, which were deployed outside of Thabeikkyin, fled the northernmost town in Mandalay Region. 

“Around 130 military personnel including [pro-military] Pyusawhtee militias retreated from the town to the outskirts [on Aug. 19]. We arrested a lieutenant colonel and seized many weapons on Sunday,” said a PDF spokesperson. He added that four PDF members were killed during the fighting. The military carried out retaliatory airstrikes on Sunday. 

The National Unity Government (NUG) Ministry of Defense claimed that a lieutenant colonel in the military was arrested in Thabeikkyin and is being held in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. The PDF stated that it has seized weapons, anti-drone equipment, and communications devices since it launched its attack against the military in Thabeikkyin on Aug. 17. 

Crisis Group analyzes Arakan Army administration

A report released by the International Crisis Group (ICG) today stated that the Arakan Army (AA) now controls a large swathe of territory along the Burma-Bangladesh border in Arakan State and southern Chinland. The AA faces difficulties administering its territory due to financial constraints as well as sea and road blockades by the military, according to the report. 

“The Arakan Army has created the largest ethnic armed group-controlled area in Myanmar with more than one million people in its territory. But it is facing huge challenges. Neighbouring states, particularly the new interim government in Bangladesh, should engage more closely with the group,” said Thomas Kean, the ICG senior consultant on Myanmar and Bangladesh. 

Kean added that the AA should take steps to improve relations with the Rohingya community and support an independent investigation into reports of alleged atrocities committed against civilians in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships in northern Arakan. The AA has seized full control of nine townships in Arakan, as well as one in southern Chinland, since it launched its offensive on Nov. 13. 

China strengthens security along Burma border

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stated on Monday that it conducted armed patrols in Ruili, Zhenkan, and other areas along the Burma-China border in Yunnan Province. Ruily and Zhenkan counties border Burma’s Kachin and Shan states, where fighting between resistance forces and the military has escalated since Oct. 27. 

“The operation aimed to test the rapid maneuverability, multidimensional blockade and joint strike capabilities of the troops, and maintain security and stability in border areas,” the PLA stated. It is scheduled to carry out live fire exercises near the Burma border Aug. 27-29. 

The military exercises come after Chinese diplomats discussed security along the border with regime officials, including with Min Aung Hlaing on Aug. 14. Much of northern Shan State, along the Burma-China border, has come under the control of the Brotherhood Alliance since it launched Operation 1027.

News by Region

A funeral for Sai Leun was held in Mongla, Shan State on Aug. 23. (Credit: Mongla Sr4 News Agency)

SHAN—The funeral of Sai Leun, the leader of the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), was held in Mongla, the capital of the Shan State Special Region 4, located in eastern Shan State on Friday. He died from lung cancer at age 78 on Aug 8. 

“He gained the love and respect of the people as he valued peace and made efforts for regional stability and development,” said San Pae, the vice-chair of the NDAA ,at the funeral. Officials from ethnic armed groups and the military attended the ceremony. Htein Lin, the son of Sai Luen, took over as NDAA leader. The NDAA was founded in 1989. 

ARAKAN—The Arakan Army (AA) stated on Saturday that it will soon establish full control over Maungdaw town near the Burma-Bangladesh border in northern Arakan State. It claims that it has seized control of seven out of eight police battalions in Maungdaw since it launched an attack on military outposts there earlier this month.

“The fighting in Maungdaw is still in its most intense state. The AA has the upper hand in the city while its troops are attacking the No.5 Border Guard Police Battalion,” said a military analyst who’s closely monitoring. The AA claims that it rescued 20,000 civilians and arrested military personnel, including members of pro-military Rohingya militias, during fighting in Maungdaw.

BAGO—The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) stated that eight women political prisoners were injured at Daik-U Prison in eastern Bago Region on Aug. 19. It claimed that armed prison staff entered the female ward of the prison and assaulted the eight. 

The AAPP described the situation for political prisoners as “life-threatening” and highlighted the death of filmmaker and political prisoner Pe Maung Same on Aug. 19. It claimed that his death was the result of inadequate medical treatment during his two-year detention. The AAPP has documented that 101 political prisoners have been killed due to a lack of proper medical care since the 2021 military coup. 

MANDALAY—The military has sent reinforcements into Madaya Township and has carried out airstrikes since early August. It seeks to prevent the PDF from seizing it. Telecommunications have been shut down in most of Madaya. “The military increased its troops along Madaya-Mandalay highway” said a Madaya PDF spokesperson. The PDF and Brotherhood Alliance launched a joint offensive in Mandalay Region on June 25.

Read: Rohingya women: Rebuilding our community, one step at a time. DVB English News is on X, FB, IG, Threads & TikTok. Subscribe to us on YouTube. Find us on YouTube Music.

Myanmar: RSF appalled by junta’s killing of two journalists

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Originally published on RSF

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is appalled by the fatal shooting of two independent Myanmar journalists, Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu, by junta soldiers in the southern state of Myanmar, bringing the total number of killed media professionals to seven since the coup d’état in February 2021.

On 21 August 2024, Htet Myat Thu and Win Htut Oo were executed during a raid carried out by 20 junta soldiers on Thu’s house in Myanmar’s southern state of Mon. The two journalists’ bodies were cremated by the military on the spot. Although pro-junta groups claimed on social media that Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu were members of the rebel troops, their former media outlets Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and the National Voice confirmed that they continued to work as journalists. 

“This is another shocking assassination by the Myanmar junta since the coup, they have been demonstrating ruthless violence against the journalists still courageously reporting in the country despite the prolonged conflict. We again renew our call on the international community to step up pressure on the regime to cease its campaign of terror against reporters and release the 62 journalists and press freedom defenders detained in the country,” said Cédric Alviani, the director of RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau.

Win Htut Oo, also known as Fizal, covered local news for DVB, a media outlet currently banned in Myanmar. The 26-year-old journalist had previously been charged with “incitement.” 28-year-old Htet Myat Thu, became a freelance journalist in 2020 and worked for the National Voice, an online media outlet. In the past, he had been arrested by the junta while covering a demonstration in the town of Kyite Hto, in the state of Mon.

Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu are the sixth and seventh journalists to be killed since the coup d’état in February 2021. Freelance photojournalists Aye Kaw and Soe Naing were murdered in detention, while the founder of the Khonumthung News Agency Pu Tuidim and the editor of the Federal News Journal Sai Win Aung were both shot by the army while reporting on the ground. Myat Thu Tun, who previously worked for local media Western News, was tortured and then executed while in prison. 

Myanmar, ranked 171th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, is one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists with 62 detained, second only to China.

Human Rights Lens – Episode 5: Religious freedom under attack

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Aung Myo Min is the Minister of Human Rights in the National Unity Government (NUG). He co-presents DVB Human Rights Lens.

Human Rights Lens is brought to you by the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and the National Unity Government (NUG) Ministry of Human Rights. It features NUG Minister of Human Rights Aung Myo Min. Episode five investigates attacks on religious freedom in Myanmar.

Myanmar: Two journalists killed in junta raid

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Myanmar junta military soldiers parade during a ceremony to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw on March 27, 2024. (Credit: AFP)

Originally published on IFJ

Two freelance journalists associated with the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Ko Htet Myat Thu and Ko Win Htut Oo, were killed as a result of a home raid by the military junta on August 21 in the southern Mon state. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and its affiliate Myanmar Journalist Network (MJN), strongly condemn the brutal killings and call on the military junta to conduct an immediate and legitimate investigation to hold those responsible to account.

On August 21, Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) freelance reporter Ko Win Htut Oo and freelance journalist Ko Htut Myat Thu were shot and killed following a home raid by the security forces of Myanmar’s ruling military junta in Mon state. According to media reports, junta forces stormed Htet Myat Thu’s home village at approximately 9 a.m., allegedly conducted to target resistance fighters sheltered at the residence.

Speaking with the Associated Press, the head of the DVB’s Citizen Journalist Network program said that over 20 troops stormed the residence, killing Win Htut Oo and another individual linked with the Kyaikto Revolution Force (KRF). Htet Myat Thu and another individual also linked with the KRF were allegedly later killed while in junta custody. In a statement, the DVB said that none of the four individuals killed were questioned prior to their killing, based on information obtained from local sources. Htut Myat Thu’s grandmother, a woman in her 90s, sustained severe injuries as a result of the raid, while two other individuals managed to escape.

Pro-junta reports claimed that the KRF members fired upon the troops, resulting in the seizure of weapons from the residence. However, local residents disputed this account, asserting that no shooting occurred, that the KRF members were visiting in civilian clothes, and that no weapons were discovered at the scene. The bodies of the journalists were not returned to their respective families and were instead cremated.

Win Htut Oo began his career as a citizen journalist in 2022 before attaining a reporter position with the DVB, largely focused on developments in Mon state. Htet Myat Thu, a childhood friend of Htut Oo, was shot in the leg while participating in anti-coup protests in 2021. He was imprisoned in Kyaikto for over six months, after which he began working as a journalist. 

Since the military junta seized power in 2021, Myanmar’s media have faced arrests, attacks, and the killings of seven journalists amid escalating regional conflicts with rebel groups across the country. In February, DVB reporter and Western News contributor Myat Thu Tan was fatally shot by two military personnel in the western Rakhine state while in military custody, with local media reporting that the discovered bodies had exhibited signs of torture.

The MJN said: “The MJN strongly denounces the extrajudicial killings of two freelance journalists. One of them was shot and arrested while reporting on the anti-coup protests in March 2021.”

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The IFJ strongly condemns the deplorable extrajudicial killings of journalists Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu by junta forces. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable, and the international community must not shy away from its responsibilities in standing against the junta’s flagrant human rights abuses. This war crime must be investigated thoroughly, immediately, and legitimately.” 

For further information contact IFJ Asia – Pacific on [email protected]

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries

Twitter: @ifjasiapacific, on Facebook: IFJAsiaPacific and Instagram

Rohingya women: Rebuilding our community, one step at a time

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Noor Azizah is the co-founder of the Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network, a women-led, Rohingya-led, and refugee-led organisation working on Rohingya human rights issues, SGBV, education, and translocal solidarity with a focus on women, peace, and security. (Credit: UNHCR)

Guest contributor

Noor Azizah

Despite our geographical distances—spanning Canada, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand—the Rohingya women’s initiative has united us in our mission to advocate for human rights and rebuild our community. 

Yasmin Ullah, Hafsa Tameesuddin, and I have long been engaged in human rights work through various initiatives, collaborating with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), states, and civil society. Our connection began on social media, where I admired their impactful work and hoped to collaborate. 

Early in my journey, I lacked a Rohingya mentor to guide me in this critical field, leading us all to navigate independently through our experiences and challenges.

In 2023, Yasmin, our executive director, brought us together for a significant mission in Aceh, Indonesia bringing five Rohingya women, including newcomers Nur Hayat Sultan and Nurhayati Ali, together for a comprehensive training program. 

We visited Pidie Camp, home to 151 Rohingya refugees, and conducted meetings with the women, children and men within the camp. Our journey continued to Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, where we engaged with politicians, NGO workers, and civil society organisations. 

This mission highlighted critical issues, such as the lack of formal education for children in the camps. Thanks to our efforts, a commitment was secured from prominent NGOs to provide schooling for underprivileged communities. This was the beginning of our collective work. Today, as a team of seven Rohingya women, we continue to advance our mission, step by step. 

We train young Rohingya girls to take on leadership roles within our community—an opportunity we didn’t have when we were growing up. People often ask why our organisation is both Rohingya-led and women-led. 

The answer lies in our unique lived experiences as Rohingya refugees and women. These experiences—shaped by our identities and the specific challenges we face—cannot be fully comprehended or replicated by others. Lived experience cannot be purchased or learned through study. Our goal is to ensure that the voices of Rohingya women are prominently heard and remain at the heart of our advocacy efforts.

Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN)

The Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN) is a civil society organisation dedicated to promoting Rohingya-led responses to the myriad challenges faced by our community.

Founded and led by resilient Rohingya women with extensive experience in advocacy and civil society, RMCN operates from a place of deep personal understanding. Our leaders have first-hand experience with displacement, violence, and statelessness, driving our commitment to human rights through an intersectional feminist lens. 

We advocate for justice, gender equality, education, and global solidarity, with a focus on amplifying the voices and autonomy of Rohingya women.

Our work is especially crucial in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where the Rohingya often remain overlooked. Our team members have experienced displacement within the region—myself for eight-and-a-half years in Malaysia, and our Yasmin for 16 years in Thailand.

These lived experiences underscore our expertise and commitment. We have faced challenges such as lack of medical care, separation from loved ones, and pervasive racism. Our proficiency in regional languages—Thai, Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Indonesia, Burmese, and Rohingya—reflects our integration into the region and resilience in navigating complex environments.

Meet the Leaders of RMCN

  • Yasmin Ullah (Vancouver, Canada): RMCN Executive Director Yasmin Ullah is a Rohingya feminist, author, and social justice activist. Having fled Myanmar in 1995 and sought asylum in Canada in 2011, Yasmin has led significant advocacy projects and is currently the chair of the ALTSEAN-Burma board. Her work includes the “Time to Act: Rohingya Voices” exhibition and the “Genocide Learning Tool,” alongside her children’s book, “Hafsa and the Magical Ring.”
  • Noor Azizah (Sydney, Australia): Director of Advocacy, International Relations, and Women’s Leadership Noor Azizah is a Rohingya refugee who resettled in Sydney, Australia. She has become a leading voice for Rohingya women. With a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Peace and Conflict Studies, Noor has been a prominent advocate at the U.N. and serves on multiple advisory panels. Her accolades include the NSW Young Women of the Year and the Global Citizen Youth Leader Award.
  • Nuraisha Hanif (Indiana, U.S.): Director of Legal Advocacy and Community Outreach Nuraisha Mohd Hanif is an aspiring immigration lawyer currently working at Amazon and preparing for law school. Born in Malaysia and raised in the U.S., Nuraisha’s commitment to raising awareness about Rohingya issues and supporting her family showcases her dedication and resilience.
  • Nur Hayat Sultan (Chicago, U.S.): Director of Youth Empowerment and Digital Literacy Nur Hayat Sultan is a software engineer. She has been actively involved with the Rohingya Culture Center since 2016. Her efforts include engaging policymakers and leading educational initiatives, including supervising an after-school program for children.
  • Nurhayati Ali (Milwaukee, U.S.): Director of Health and Human Services Nurhayati Ali is a recent graduate in neurobiology. She is a community organizer in Milwaukee. With aspirations of becoming a physician, she is committed to empowering women and addressing health needs within the Rohingya community.
  • Roshidah Noordin (Indiana, U.S.): Director of Financial and Community Services Roshidah Noordin immigrated from Malaysia to the U.S. She has recently graduated with a degree in accounting and sociology and is preparing for her CPA exam while working as an auditor, demonstrating the resilience and ambition fostered by her family’s sacrifices.
  • Siti Ayub (Milwaukee, U.S.): Director of Education and Mental Health Services Siti Ayub is a graduate student at Marquette University. She is dedicated to educational advocacy and mental health support. Her experiences as a Rohingya in Milwaukee inspire her commitment to guiding students and advocating for her community.

Addressing Human Rights Issues for the Rohingya Community

Our recent initiatives have targeted crucial areas such as combating hate speech, providing emergency relief, and supporting education and mental health services for Rohingya refugees. 

Key efforts include:

  • Combating hate speech: Organised an art competition and webinar in Indonesia to address and counteract hate speech against the Rohingya.
  • Emergency relief: Raised $5,500 CAD to support survivors of a boat that capsized, and an additional $6,000 CAD for Rohingya fleeing genocide.
  • Support in Aceh: Successfully fundraised $50,000 CAD to provide essential supplies and safe housing for Rohingya refugees in Aceh, alongside psychosocial support for unaccompanied children.
  • Education and capacity building: Facilitated university education for Rohingya refugees and provided laptops to enhance their capacity, supported by cultural preservation projects in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF Australia.
  • Program development: Collaborated with a forensic academy in Guatemala to develop a program focusing on missing persons, ensuring the Rohingya community’s plight is recognized and addressed globally.

Conclusion: A future of hope and resilience

Our journey reflects both our challenges and our resilience. As we continue to advocate for the Rohingya community, our vision is one of hope and empowerment, driven by our commitment to justice and the betterment of our people. Recent violence has once again ravaged our community, displacing and killing countless lives. 

The Arakan (Rakhine) Army and the Myanmar military, in their relentless pursuit of power, have mirrored each other’s brutal actions, aiming to erase the indigenous Rohingya from our ancestral homeland in Arakan. We have been brutally dispossessed of our land, yet we persist. The path ahead is far from easy, but we draw strength from our collective spirit, a legacy passed down by our ancestors, guiding us in our collective struggle.

Noor Azizah is the co-founder of the Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network, a women-led, Rohingya-led, and refugee-led organisation working on Rohingya human rights issues, SGBV, education, and translocal solidarity with a focus on women, peace, and security.

DVB publishes a diversity of opinions that does not reflect DVB editorial policy. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our stories: [email protected]

The Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN) is a civil society organisation dedicated to promoting Rohingya-led responses to the myriad challenges faced by the Rohingya community across Southeast Asia.

Naypyidaw and southern Chinland impacted by floods; Regime wants banks to accept digital payments

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Firefighters clean up water inside the Ocean Shopping Center after flooding in Naypyidaw on Aug. 24. (Credit: Myanmar Fire Services Department)

Naypyidaw and southern Chinland impacted by floods

Residents of Oattarathiri and Pyinama townships in Naypyidaw were evacuated from their homes due to flooding as the water level in the Ngaklite and Sinthay creeks increased due to heavy rain on Saturday. In Paletwa Township of southern Chinland, nearly 1,500 residents are in need of emergency assistance due to floods there. 

“There will be more flooding  if the rain continues,” said a Pyinmana resident. A rescue worker in Paletwa told DVB: “All villages in the township flooded. Farms and around 50 homes have been destroyed. Many livestock have perished too.”  

The Myanmar Fire Services Department claimed that it helped clear water inside the Ocean Shopping Center and other homes in Oattarathiri Township in Naypyidaw over the weekend. Paletwa residents are in need of food and medicine, according to rescue workers. 

Regime wants banks to accept digital payments

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) has urged private banks to cooperate with the regime in adopting a digital currency platform for paying salaries to civil servants. It stated that this would reduce the need for printing cash and prevent inflation by minimizing cash usage. 

“The main problem is infrastructure. You can’t do it with just one bank. Telecom companies would also be needed for this,” said an economic and policy expert on the condition of anonymity. “Digital currency is good, but communications are a problem,” said Aung Thu Nyeen, the director of communication at the Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar (ISP Myanmar).

Aung Thu Nyeen told DVB that there are significant challenges in implementing a digital currency payments system nationwide. He added that the CBM still has much work to do. Civil servants from 34 different departmental offices in Naypyidaw have had their salaries paid with digital currencies since May 2023.

Arakan Army accused of ‘Naf River Massacre’

Rohingya human rights groups issued a joint statement accusing the Arakan Army (AA) of responsibility for drone and artillery attacks that targeted hundreds of Rohingya in Maungdaw Township, northern Arakan State. on Aug. 5. It claimed that at least 200 Rohingya were killed, including women and children.

“The Naf River Massacre follows a pattern of similar drone strikes by the AA on urban wards of Maungdaw town and its surrounding Rohingya villages in recent weeks. It also follows ground reports indicating that Rohingya civilians are being strategically targeted by the AA and the Myanmar military with atrocities,” said the statement.

The human rights groups called on the AA to cease attacks on civilians and to stop using hate speech against the Rohingya. They also requested that U.N. officials be allowed to enter areas under AA control in northern Arakan to investigate and hold the perpetrators of crimes accountable. The AA said it would investigate after it takes full control of Maungdaw. Read more here.

Burma nationals living in Thailand receive rice donations at a Chinese temple in Mae Sot on Aug. 24. (Credit: DVB)

News by Region

SAGAING—The Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA), alongside the Kachin People’s Defense Force (KPDF) and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), seized seven military outposts in Tigyaing Township on Aug. 23. The KIA-led forces launched an attack on Aug. 21. 

“A significant amount of weapons and ammunition was captured from their camps,” a KPDF spokesperson told DVB. The number of casualties from both sides is unknown. But the KPDF added that the military suffered more casualties than KIA-led forces.

YANGON—A representative of a foreign employment agency told DVB that immigration officials at Yangon International Airport prevented four individuals under age 40 from traveling on Aug. 21. The four were holding PV (visitor) passports and were not given a reason why they were denied being allowed to leave the country. 

“It seems they were not trusted because they had never traveled abroad before, despite having official PV documents,” said the representative. “Many people were sent home from the airport,” said a woman who was prevented from departing the country. The regime has imposed travel restrictions on citizens since it activated its conscription law on Feb. 10. 

The regime has instructed Yangon residents that they must register their household lists with ward administrators in order to obtain a booklet which will allow them to purchase edible oil. These booklets are required to purchase edible oil at the fixed price set by the regime.

“It’s similar to the old cooperative system, you can only buy items with the books they provide. I was told to go to the ward office with a list of household members to get the book,” a Yangon resident told DVB. Min Aung Hlaing promoted economic cooperatives during a meeting in Naypyidaw on July 29. The cooperative system was used under Burma’s socialist system from 1962-88. 

Read: Echoes of 2017: Genocide, civil war & the moral dilemma of a nation by Jaivet Ealom.

Watch: What’s happening in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region? DVB English News is on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads & TikTok. Subscribe to us on YouTube.

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