Regime forces near Kyaukme in northern Shan State
Sources in northern Shan State told DVB that an ongoing regime counteroffensive against the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to recapture Kyaukme Township after Nawnghkio Township fell to regime forces on July 16, has reached Hkaiktonhuong village 12 miles (19 km) south of Kyaukme. The town, located 68 miles (109 km) southwest of the regional capital Lashio, was seized by the TNLA in August 2024.
A Kyaukme resident told DVB that there have been air and artillery strikes daily since regime troops neared the village over the weekend. Zin Yaw, a Burma Army defector who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), told DVB that the regime sent reinforcements from its Triangle Region Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in eastern Shan’s Kengtung Township to northern Shan’s Kyaukme.
Kengtung is located 368 miles (592 km) southeast of Kyaukme and 281 miles (452 km) east of the Shan State capital Taunggyi. The Union Election Commission (UEC) has scheduled polls to be held in 38 of Shan State’s total 55 townships, including Kyaukme. A DVB request for comment from Lway Yay Oo, the TNLA spokesperson, went unanswered on Tuesday.
Arakan Army fights militants on Myanmar-Bangladesh border
A frontline source in Arakan State told DVB that members of the militant group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) launched an attack against an Arakan Army (AA) camp near Inchaung village in Maungdaw Township on Sept. 16. The AA seized Maungdaw on Dec. 8, which brought the entire 167 miles (270 km) long Burma-Bangladesh border under its control.
An ARSA video shared to social media on Sept. 22 claimed that its members had captured an AA base in Maungdaw, but did not disclose the exact details of the name or the location. The AA has not confirmed or denied these claims. A source in the AA told DVB that fighting between its forces and ARSA continued in northern Arakan State on Sept. 22.
On Sept. 19, the AA accused ARSA and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) of killing and abducting non-Muslim residents of Maungdaw. It advised civilians to inform the AA administration when they have to travel. The AA has seized 14 out of 17 townships in Arakan, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chinland. The state capital Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung, are under regime control.
Nine more face charges under new ‘Election Protection Law’
Regime media reported on Monday that five men from Loikaw Township in Karenni State, and four men from Shwepyitha Township in Yangon Region, were charged under Section 23 (A) of the new Election Protection Law for disrupting the regime elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28.
A source close to the administration in Shwepyitha Township told DVB that the four men were arrested on Sept. 16 for allegedly making a pro-democracy chant in the streets. The Loikaw Police Station has filed charges against the other five on Sept. 14, adding that all are under the age of 18.
Two men from Yangon’s Hlaingthaya Township are also reportedly facing charges for disrupting the elections. This brings the total number charged under the law to 12 with one already convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. The Election Protection Law, enacted on July 29, carries a minimum sentence of three years in prison and a maximum sentence of death.
News by Region
CHINLAND—Residents of Mindat Township in southern Chinland told DVB that seven houses were destroyed in an airstrike carried out by the Burma Air Force on Sept. 21. Mindat, located 120 miles (193 km) south of the state capital Hakha, was seized by the Chin Brotherhood in December 2024.
“There were no casualties,” a Mindat resident told DVB. An airstrike on neighbouring Kanpetlet Township injured one person and damaged two schools on Sept. 10. Kanpelet, located 160 miles (257 km) south of Hakha, was also seized in December. A regime counteroffensive is underway in southern Chinland.
KACHIN—A source in the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) told DVB that three civilians were killed in airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Lanse village of Tsawlaw Township on Monday. Tsawlaw is located 120-164 miles (193-263 km) north of the state capital Myitkyina and the KIA headquarters in Laiza.
A KIA source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that a child was among the three killed. He added that the regime counteroffensive to retake Lanse began on Sept. 19. No casualties have been reported yet from either side. The KIA seized control of Tsawlaw on Nov. 20.
SAGAING—Residents of Kanni Township told DVB that four civilians were killed by a paramotor attack carried out on Thaminchan village on Monday. Kanni, located 40 miles (64 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa, was seized by the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in 2023.
“The military targeted this village three times,” a PDF member told DVB. The village has around 500 households, located eight miles south of Kanni town. The paramotor was launched from the Northwestern RMC in Monywa. Six civilians were killed in airstrikes on April 13, Aug. 31, and Sept. 3.
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