Landmine victim Zaw Lun has been living at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp outside of Laiza, Kachin State for more than 10 years. (Credit: DVB)
Life at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp can be a challenge for most able-bodied men, but Zaw Lun, 60, stepped on a landmine while on his way to work at a farm. This resulted in an amputation to his right leg below the knee.
“It was a familiar route that others had taken. It was on the way from the old village to the farm. Villagers always tried to avoid a clump of bamboo trees there because they had heard there were landmines in the area. That’s where I stepped on [it],” said Zaw Lun.
At Laiza Hospital, he had his leg amputated and received treatment. Three months after being discharged from the hospital in 2022, he was fitted with a prosthetic leg. “Before I received my prosthesis, I couldn’t even sit comfortably on the toilet. I had to depend on my family to assist me,” he added.
Zaw Lun’s story of how he overcame adversity reflects the challenges faced by civilians during the conflict in Kachin State. Even if fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) and the military ends, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and landmines will remain.
“Removing landmines after deployment is not easy. Even with demining efforts, it’s nearly impossible to clear every single one. Some may inevitably remain,” said Zaw Lun.
Another landmine survivor is doing push-ups on a hospital bed. Even though Kay Two, 25, is missing a leg, he can still demonstrate his strength to friends while doctors and nurses are out of sight.
“We arrived in the jungle shortly after the [2021] military coup. At that time, we received only 15 days of training,” said Kay Two. He led an operation to capture a military outpost. While his unit was advancing to seize the base, Kay Two stepped on a landmine at 1:30 pm – a time forever etched into his mind.
“At that moment, I truly believed I was going to die. When I initially stepped on the landmine, I thought I had lost my entire lower body. My comrades rushed to rescue me,” he said.
Kay Two was taken to the hospital. One of his legs had to be amputated, like Zaw Lun. But he was more concerned about whether he’d be able to join his unit to continue the fight missing one leg.
He now waits for his prosthesis at the hospital and says he wants to raise awareness about the dangers posed by ERW and landmines. “Many civilians in our area have been injured by landmines. They have been hurt by landmines laid by both sides. Civilians are the most vulnerable in war.”
The U.N. International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) stated last month that the number of people in Myanmar affected by ERW and landmines in the first three months of 2024 has reached 339 nationwide.
Myanmar ranks fifth among countries with the highest death rates due to landmines worldwide. As armed conflict spreads to even more villages and towns across the country since the uprising against the 2021 military coup continues, the dangers posed by landmines and ERWs continue.
Laos' Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith greets regime Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Aung Kyaw Moe at the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane on July 25. (Credit: Reuters)
Laos, the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), plans to host an international conference to discuss Myanmar’s political crisis since the 2021 military coup with the ASEAN troika of Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia, which was established in September 2023 to continue with diplomatic efforts as ASEAN has an annual rotating chair.
Laos’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith made the declaration about the Myanmar conference at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane on Thursday. But he did not specify the date it would take place.
“There is no progress on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. And if there is no progress still, Myanmar’s participation in ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meetings and summits must be kept at a non-political level,” said Retno Marsudi, Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the ASEAN meeting on July 25.
Marsudi blamed both the military and anti-coup resistance forces for refusing to participate in dialogue, which is one of the main points – along with ending all violence – in the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus.
The National Unity Government (NUG), a group of elected lawmakers ousted in the coup who offer a return to civilian rule in Myanmar, has stated that it would only engage in dialogue with the military if it ceases all violence, releases all political prisoners, and cedes power to make way for a federal democratic union inclusive of Myanmar’s diverse ethnic nationalities.
Regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said on Aug. 22 that Naypyidaw would only consider dialogue with the NUG if its armed wing, the People’s Defense Force (PDF), renounced violence. The PDF has been involved in operations against the military, often fighting alongside armed groups like the Brotherhood Alliance, nationwide.
ASEAN barred senior regime officials from its high-level meetings in August 2022 over Naypyidaw’s failure to adhere to the Five-Point Consensus. It invited a non-political representative from Myanmar to attend its summits, but the invitation was snubbed by Naypyidaw until it began sending representatives earlier this year after Laos took over as ASEAN chair.
DVB English News Weekly Briefing for July 26, 2024. In this week’s briefing: Regional Military Command in Lashio reportedly seized by resistance forces; Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing assumes duties of presidency after Acting President Myint Swe’s medical leave; A member of the Rohingya Consultative Council on plans to make a formal announcement about its establishment; Plus, a five-day event exchanging ideas about democracy in Myanmar.
The Bamar People’s Liberation Army at the entrance to Lashio, in northern Shan State. (Credit: BPLA)
Regional Military Command in Lashio reportedly seized
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) announced that it had taken control of the Northeastern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Lashio, located in northern Shan State, on Thursday.
Regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told BBC Burmese on July 25 that reports that the RMC in Lashio had fallen to the MNDAA were false. If confirmed, this would be the first time in Burma’s history that the military lost control of one of its 14 RMC since independence in 1948.
“The fall of Lashio would greatly compromise the regime’s ability to maintain any presence in northern Shan State or re-secure access to the Myanmar—China border in the foreseeable future,” wrote Morgan Michaels, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, in a report published this month.
“It is not fully occupied yet [by the MNDAA]. They are still conducting clearance operations. The deputy commander is okay,” a source inside the RMC in Lashio told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Maung Saungkha, the leader of the Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA) – which is fighting alongside the MNDAA in Lashio – posted on social media that only a few military positions remain to be captured.
The leader of the Northeastern RMC headquarters General Soe Hlaing, who was appointed one week ago to replace General Soe Tint, had reportedly fled Lashio together with other military families. “Now, the deputy commander is leading the fighting,” another source close to the Northeastern RMC told DVB from Lashio on Wednesday. Fighting between the MNDAA and the military began in Lashio on July 3.
Regime administrator accepts cash payment for conscription evasion
A regime-appointed administrator in Pein Inn Village of Laymyethna Township, Ayeyarwady Region, demanded five million kyat ($2,350 USD) from a conscription aged woman as a payment to avoid the draft lottery for military conscription on Sunday.
“The village administrator asked for five million kyat to substitute someone in the woman’s place. He said it’s not for his own personal gain,” a resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The administrator did not specify to residents where the money would go.
Sources close to the Laymyethna administration said that women aged 17 to 28 living in 20 villages of the township are registered for the military conscription draft lottery. The regime enforced its military conscription law on Feb. 10. The law stipulates women aged 18 to 27 must serve 2-5 years.
Regime Defence Minister Tin Aung San instructed all RMC to begin to include the names of women, when household lists are compiled, for the incoming fifth batch of conscripts into the military, a source close to the military told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
“Female conscription will begin in July right after the fourth batch of male conscripts. The name lists will be compiled after the regional recruitment team has a meeting with the district and township administrators,” added the source.
News by Region
Ta’ang National Liberation Army being greeted by Mogok residents as its troops enter the town on July 24. (Credit: TNLA)
Over 30 military personnel were detained and more than 200 weapons were seized by the TNLA. Twenty-nine homes and four monasteries were destroyed by retaliatory airstrikes. The TNLA told DVB that it seized control of Mogok on Wednesday. “We took control of the entire town,” said Lway Yay Oo, the TNLA spokesperson. Read more here.
KAREN—Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein, 69, a Karen political activist and the former vice-chairperson of the Karen National Union (KNU), passed away from cancer in Thailand on Wednesday. She worked as a teacher in Karen State before relocating to Thailand in 1995.
“We are heartbroken to lose her. She was our sister who fought for freedom and justice. She was an example of how to be a good leader for our community to share power and use it for the benefit of the people,” stated the Karen Women’s Organization (KWO). Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein was KWO general secretary from 1998-2008.
MON—At least ten villages in Ye Township have been affected by flooding since Wednesday. “People from the lowland side need to be evacuated as the water levels of the Ye River will increase soon,” said a Ye resident. Meteorologists predicted that landslides and flooding may occur in the lowland areas of Mon and Karen states, as well as Tanintharyi Region due to the heavy rainfall.
NAYPYIDAW—The regime Ministry of Labour announced on Tuesday that 200 overseas employment agencies that have failed to submit personal information of the migrant workers that it sends abroad by July 26 will face a business suspension and fines. It did not specify the duration of the business suspension nor the amount of fines it would impose.
Laos’ Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith greets regime Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Aung Kyaw Moe at the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane on July 25. (Credit: Reuters)
Min Aung Hlaing, 68, takes on the role of president and executive of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) as the state of emergency, renewed every six months since the 2021 coup, is set to expire. The NDSC meets July 31 to decide whether to extend it a seventh time. (Credit: Reuters)
With the powers of Myanmar’s presidency, Min Aung Hlaing will lead the National Defence and Security Committee (NDSC). He will now be the one to decide whether to extend the state of emergency a seventh time, since the 2021 military coup, or to end it. According to the military’s 2008 constitution, if he ends it this would trigger an election in the next six months. Min Aung Hlaing told his ministers last month that he will hold an election in 2025.
TRANSCRIPT—What’s happening in Myanmar is worth your attention. Let me take a minute to explain who MIn Aung Hlaing is.
The 68-year-old senior military general has now assumed the role of president.
This is since Acting President Myint Swe’s medical leave was announced last week.
Min Aung Hlaing led the 2021 military coup.
He replaced Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy government with an unelected council.
Led by himself and other military generals.
For this act, Min Aung Hlaing has faced a nationwide uprising against his rule.
He now faces questions from within about his leadership following a series of military defeats since October 27th.
This is when the Brotherhood Alliance launched Operation 1027.
It seized control of over 300 military outposts and 13 towns located along the China-Myanmar border.
The National Defence and Security Council will meet July 31st to discuss the state of emergency.
It has been renewed by the NDSC every six months since the 2021 coup.
With the powers of Myanmar’s presidency, Min Aung Hlaing will lead the NDSC.
He will now be the one to decide whether to extend the state of emergency a seventh time, or to end it.
According to the military’s 2008 constitution, if he ends it this would trigger an election in the next six months.
Min Aung Hlaing told his ministers last month that he will hold an election in 2025.
Stay tuned to DVB English News for the latest on What’s happening in Myanmar.
Subscribe to the Daily Briefing newsletter on our website. And listen every Friday to the Weekly Briefing podcast.
Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) fighters being greeted by Mogok residents as they enter the town on July 24. (Credit: TNLA)
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) told DVB that it has seized control of Mogok Township in northern Mandalay Region on Wednesday. Mogok is famed for its ruby mines, which are a major source of revenue for both the military and ethnic armed groups active in neighboring Shan State.
The TNLA shared photos and videos to its social media accounts of troops being greeted by residents with flowers as they entered the town. Mogok is divided into eastern and western halves that are seven miles (11 km) apart.
The TNLA and MPDF seized control of the western part of Mogok on July 2. It is now the second town seized outright by the TNLA after it took control of Nawnghkio Township in northern Shan State on July 10.
Large rubies from Mogok have been sold for millions of U.S dollars at international gem auctions. The regime in Naypyidaw has not issued a response about the loss of Mogok to the TNLA.
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