Regime forces near northern Shan State’s Nawnghkio
Sources on the frontline in northern Shan State told DVB that two regime columns reached Kyaukkyan and Myakchinnu villages, each located approximately four miles (6 km) southwest and south of Nawnghkio Township, on Sunday. Nawnghkio is located 96 miles (154 km) south of the region’s capital Lashio. It came under Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) control on July 10, 2024.
The TNLA Spokesperson Lway Yay Oo told the media at a press conference on Saturday that China met with both the regime and the TNLA on separate occasions to call for an end to fighting. A source with knowledge of the fighting told DVB on the condition of anonymity that regime forces have received overwhelming air support in its counteroffensive against the TNLA in Nawngkhio, which began in April.
The TNLA reported on Sunday that the Burma Air Force conducted airstrikes on Kyaukme and Hsipaw over the weekend but reported no casualties. Lway Yay Oo told the media that the TNLA and the regime will meet again in China next month after the two sides failed to come to an agreement during the first two rounds of talks in February and April.
Chinland Defence Force claims 73 killed since 2021 coup
The Chinland Defence Force – Kalay Kabaw Gangaw (CDF-KKG) commemorated its 4th anniversary on July 1 with the news that 73 of its members have been killed and over 150 have been injured since the uprising to the 2021 coup began. Kalay and Gangaw are located in the Kabaw Valley near Chinland 123–207 miles (198–333 km) north and west of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.
“We killed several regime troops and seized some outposts and a large cache of weapons and ammunition,” Ar Mone, the CDF-KKG spokesperson, told DVB. He added that the CDF-KKG, in coordination with other resistance forces, have seized four regime outposts and a village located between Kalay and Gangaw during a “major operation” against a pro-regime militia this year.
The CDF-KKG claimed that it has fought in over 400 battles with regime troops since 2021. It added that it has recovered the bodies of over 50 regime troops following the seizure of their outposts. Ar Mone told DVB the regime forces have launched a counteroffensive to retake the village home to a pro-regime militia, and that his forces were in urgent need of ammunition.
Culinary diplomacy from Burma to Thailand
Trish is a Michelin-trained chef and the founder of Bamama Cooks, a food initiative which creates community for exiles and the diaspora from Burma in Thailand. She, along with 24 Michelin-starred chefs, recently raised 1.9 million THB ($ 58,667 USD) at a gala event in Bangkok for earthquake relief in Burma.
“I have a platform that has a certain level of reach and audience out there. My audience is targeted to the international crowd and I think, in a way, [I] can use [my] platform to talk about the Myanmar situation,” Trish told DVB. “At the end of the day my goal is to raise money.”
Watch our Newsroom interview with Trish called ‘Bamama’ Cooks: Culinary diplomacy from Myanmar to Thailand on DVB English News YouTube or Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get podcasts. Watch our DW report on Trish called The Burmese Chef Using Food to Create Community.
News by Region
SAGAING—The People’s Defence Force (PDF) told DVB that Salingyi Township residents have been ordered to return to work at the Myanmar Wanbao copper mining site at Letpadaung Mountain. Salingyi is located 26 miles (41 km) south of the region’s capital Monywa.
“[Regime forces] attacked villages to force residents back to work,” said a PDF member on the condition of anonymity. Aid workers told DVB that a 100-strong regime column was deployed to the mining site on June 15, displacing more than 7,000 people from their homes.
MAGWAY—The PDF in Pakokku Township claimed that regime forces fired artillery at them after they killed four regime troops during a rocket attack on Pakokku Airport on Saturday. Pakokku is located 105 miles (169 km) north of the region’s capital Magway.
A PDF spokesperson told DVB that the airport is being used to launch paramotor attacks on nearby villages. Pakokku residents claimed that regime forces have tightened security around the airport following the attack, which also injured four regime troops.
MANDALAY—A PDF member told DVB that they killed at least 30 troops and detained three as prisoners during fighting with regime forces in Myingyan District on July 3. Myingyan is located 69 miles (111 km) southwest of the region’s capital Mandalay.
The PDF told DVB that it launched an attack on a 140-strong regime column that was en route to distribute supplies to villages in Simeekhon Township. The PDF simultaneously launched an offensive against eight regime outposts in Myingyan on May 15.
Sources close to the regime’s Forest Department in Kyaukpadaung Township told DVB that five staff, including an assistant director, were arrested by an unknown armed group on July 5. Kyaukpadaung is located 140 miles (225 km) southwest of Mandalay.
“We don’t have any information about them,” a source told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The regime held the 2nd Monsoon Tree Planting Ceremony in Naypyidaw, and other regions, on July 5. It has not shared any information about the arrests.
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