People’s Defence Force seizes town in Sagaing Region
The People’s Defence Force (PDF) announced on Monday that six of its members were killed, as well as seven pro-regime troops, during its fight to seize control of Banmauk town in Sagaing Region’s Banmauk Township on Sept. 20. Banmauk is located 235 miles (378 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa and 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Indaw, which was seized by the PDF on April 7.
A PDF member told DVB on the condition of anonymity that over 2,000 residents of Banmauk town were evacuated over the weekend. The source added that airstrikes are being carried out on the town but did not report any casualties. Around 400 pro-regime troops, including the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), had withdrawn to the northern parts of the township, according to the PDF.
A source close to the PDF told DVB that they had captured an unspecified number of regime outposts within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius of the town since the offensive in Banmauk began on Sept. 15. Banmauk is located 50 miles (80 km) west of Sagaing’s Mawlu town and 125 miles (201 km) east of Pinlebu town, which were seized by the PDF in 2023-24.
Regime begins counteroffensive in Kachin State
Sources in Kachin State told DVB that pro-regime forces launched a counteroffensive to recapture the gold-mining hub of Lanse village in Tsawlaw Township from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on Sept. 19. Tsawlaw is located 120-164 miles (193-263 km) north of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and the KIA headquarters in Laiza.
A KIA source told DVB that regime forces had forcibly recruited villagers in Khaunglanhpu Township of Putao District, located 327 miles (526 km) north of Tsawlaw, to serve as porters in its counteroffensive. Media reported that a pro-regime column from Putao attempted a counteroffensive in July but failed as KIA-led forces intercepted it.
The KIA seized control of Tsawlaw, Chipwi, and parts of Waingmaw Township–formerly known as Kachin Special Region One–in northeastern Kachin State on Nov. 20. It has complete control of Kachin’s Sumprabum, Injangyang, Chipwi, and Tsawlaw, out of the state’s 18 total townships. The remaining townships are either under full or partial regime control.
Children unable to go to school due to fear of airstrikes
Teachers and students who refused to work or study under the military regime, and joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) against the 2021 coup, told DVB that schools have been intentionally targeted by regime attacks, including airstrikes.
Yati Ohm, a CDM teacher who runs a school in a resistance-controlled area of Sagaing Region, told DVB that she witnessed the death of two teachers and 21 students in an airstrike on a school in Ohhteintwin village, located seven miles southwest of Depayin town in Sagaing Region, on May 12. Depayin is located 40 miles (64 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.
“Some school children lost their lives and some became disabled after losing their body parts,” Yati Ohm told DVB. “The survivors are experiencing emotional distress. Every time they learn about the location of the military aircraft, they are unable to focus entirely on their lessons. They have to stop studying and hide somewhere safe.” Read more here
News by Region
AYEYARWADY—A source close to the Southwestern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Pathein Township told DVB that a military sergeant stationed at the RMC left his post without permission, taking his weapons and ammunition along with him, on Saturday.
“The military personnel, administrators, and pro-military Pyusawhtee militias are still looking for him and have not found him yet,” a source from the RMC told DVB on the condition of anonymity. He added that six military conscripts from the No. 6 Basic Training Depot in Pathein fled their posts on March 4.
KARENNI—Sources in Hpruso Township told DVB that over 50 military vehicles loaded with troops and supplies arrived at the regime’s No. 14 military training school in Hpruso on Sept. 18-19. Hpruso is located 22 miles (35 km) south of the state capital Loikaw, which is under regime control.
“The convoy was probably resupplying regime positions in Demoso and Hpruso from Loikaw,” a source in the Karenni resistance told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Regime troops recaptured Demoso on Aug. 19. It is located 11 miles (17 km) south of Loikaw and 11 miles (17 km) north of Hpruso.
NAYPYIDAW—The regime-controlled National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) relaxed the Political Parties Registration Law on Sunday, allowing parties running nationwide to contest in one-fourth of all constituencies, or 178, instead of the previous requirement of 356.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Sept. 14 that elections will take place in 712 constituencies, which correspond to 274 townships. Polls will not be held in 121 constituencies, or 56 townships. The UEC states that 57 parties have registered with six contesting nationwide in elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28.
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