Protest in Japan over Nikkei report on Myitkyina Airport strike
The National Unity Government (NUG) representative to Japan Saw Ba Hla Thein told DVB that he was “deeply concerned” over a report published in Japanese language newspaper Nikkei on Feb. 23, which falsely described a drone strike on a Myanmar National Airlines ATR 72-600 aircraft at Myitkyina Airport in Kachin State on Feb. 20 as an attack carried out by resistance forces targeting a civilian airliner.
Saw Ba Hla Thein added that the Nikkei’s coverage of the drone strike in the Kachin State capital could harm the reputation of Burma’s resistance forces which rose up against the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. Marit Zam Bu, a pro-democracy living activist in Japan, told DVB that the Nikkei story “lacked sufficient context and relied heavily on the regime’s propaganda without properly investigating the actual facts.”
The regime in Naypyidaw accused the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allied People’s Defence Force (PDF) of carrying out the strike. The KIA has denied responsibility. Burma nationals in Japan said that they will request Nikkei review its coverage of the conflict and issue a clarification to prevent “misinformation” from reaching policymakers and the public in Japan. Nikkei has not responded to the criticism.
FBI threatens cyber scam operations targeting Americans
Scott Schelble, the deputy assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), gave an online press conference on Tuesday about his agency’s efforts with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to counter the proliferation of cyber scam operations in Southeast Asia targeting Americans, including those located along the 1,501 mile (2,416 km) long Thailand-Myanmar border.
He stated that the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received over 80,000 complaints from American citizens with monetary losses exceeding $2.9 billion USD. “These are staggering figures impacting all of us, which really sort of signifies that this is truly a global enterprise,” Schelble said on Feb. 24, threatening criminals who target Americans that international borders will not protect them.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the establishment of a “Scam Center Strike Force” on Nov. 12 to crack down on “cryptocurrency-related scams based in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos that target Americans.” It has seized and forfeited $401 million USD in cryptocurrency, according to its Nov. 12 statement. The U.S. Strike Force has carried out operations against two scam centers in Burma.
Regime forces torch homes in Sagaing Region’s Pale
Residents of Pale Township in Sagaing Region told DVB that regime forces have been burning down homes in northern Pale’s Chinpyit village, which was controlled by the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA), since Tuesday. Pale is located 39 miles (62 km) southwest of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.
A PDF member in Pale told DVB that residents have already been evacuated from their homes in Chinpyit village. The arson follows the surrender of Bo Nagar, the BNRA leader, to the military on Feb. 18. The PDF under the National Unity Government (NUG) controls the southern part of Pale while the BNRA controlled the northern part until Bo Nagar’s surrender, according to residents.
The NUG claimed that around 150 BNRA members surrendered to the PDF for inspection with their weapons. Soe Win Swe, a politician in Sagaing Region, told DVB that regime forces may be trying to turn remaining BNRA members into a pro-military militia. The PDF told DVB that two regime columns launched simultaneous attacks in Pale and Yinmabin, 28 miles (45 km) west of Monywa, on Feb. 19.
News by Region
CHIN—The Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) told DVB on Tuesday that it is engaged in battle with regime forces over control of the Htinshu hilltop outpost in Falam Township. Falam, located 68 miles (109 km) north of the state capital Hakha, was seized by the Chin Brotherhood in April.
Salai Timmy Htut, the CNDF spokesperson, told DVB that resistance forces withdrew from the Htinshu outpost due to airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Feb. 22. The CNDF reportedly recaptured the Htinshu outpost on Feb. 14 – one day after it was taken by regime troops.
NAYPYIDAW—A source told DVB that the regime’s National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) — the agency tasked with holding peace talks with ethnic armed groups — has requested help from China to facilitate ceasefire negotiations with the Arakan Army (AA) after the incoming administration takes office in April.
The regime source added that deputy regime leader Soe Win asked China’s ambassador to Burma Ma Jia for Beijing’s help in facilitating ceasefire talks with the AA during the Lunar New Year ceremony in Yangon Region on Feb. 14. The AA has seized 14 of 17 Arakan townships, as well as Paletwa in southern Chinland, since November 2023.
SAGAING—Aid workers in Wetlet Township told DVB that over 10,000 residents displaced from their homes since December due to a regime counteroffensive, now living at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, need tarpaulin for shelter. Wetlet is located about 50 miles (80 km) east of the region’s capital Monywa.
A Wetlet resident displaced from home told DVB that some have found shelter in a forest outside of town due to the threat of regime airstrikes. He added that rice supplies are running low. An aid worker told DVB that regime forces are attempting to reassert control over eastern Wetlet.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 3,900 MMK)
Four DVB Peacock Film Festival short documentaries will be screened at Vega Cinema in Oslo. Norway, with special guest Kim Aris today.
