Regime offers ‘dialogue’ with Brotherhood Alliance
Min Aung Hlaing claimed that he is willing to engage in talks with the three ethnic armed organizations in the Brotherhood Alliance, which his regime declared as terrorist groups on Sept. 2, during his meeting with China Premier Li Qiang at the Greater Mekong Subregion Summit in Kunming, China on Wednesday.
“If they truly desire peace, our doors are open for dialogue, and we are prepared for discussions. Rather than focusing on the demands of armed insurgents, attention should be given to what must be done for peace,” he said. Regime media reported that Li Qiang pledged Beijing’s support for peace efforts in Burma, as well as Naypyidaw’s elections tentatively scheduled for November 2025.
The Brotherhood Alliance includes the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA). Airstrikes have been carried out by the Burma Air Force on territory under the control of the MNDAA, TNLA and AA in northern Shan and Arakan states on a near daily basis since September. Min Aung Hlaing visited China this week for the first time since the 2021 military coup.
Four civilians killed in Sagaing Region this week
Three civilians have been killed and at least five others have been injured by airstrikes on Aima village of Pale Township, Sagaing Region, on Tuesday. At least six homes and a monastery were also destroyed. Pale Township is located around 39 miles (69 km) southwest of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.
“Residents of the village held a Kahtain [Buddhist] festival, giving robes and other donations to monks. A fighter jet dropped three bombs and opened fire on the area. Three residents were killed instantly,” a Pale Township People’s Administration spokesperson told DVB. The local administration is affiliated with the National Unity Government (NUG).
Another civilian was killed by artillery fired by the military at Alelbon village of Pale Township on Monday. A People’s Defense Force (PDF) spokesperson told DVB that resistance forces had temporarily stopped fighting against the military in Pale as residents began celebrating the Buddhist festivals of Tazaungdaing and Thadingyut since October.
Arakan Army makes gains in southern Arakan State
The AA seized full control of Taingkyoe village of Gwa Township, located 185 miles (298 km) northwest of Yangon in southern Arakan State, after capturing a temporary military outpost in the village on Wednesday.
“The fighting lasted about two days. Some injured soldiers retreated, and the military responded with airstrikes. The village suffered severe damage,” a source close to the AA told Narinjara News. There were no reports of civilian casualties.
The AA seized the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 371 and the Central Ordnance Depot in Ann Township, located around 199 miles (320 km) southeast of the Arakan State capital Sittwe, on Tuesday. These bases are vital to the defenses of the Western Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters. The AA claimed that it detained military personnel and seized ammunition.
News by Region
CHINLAND—Residents of Mindat Township told DVB that the military has burned down nearly 100 homes and buildings since Sept. 13. This includes a government housing compound in Mindat, which is located 171 miles (275 km) south of Chinland capital Hakha.
“There are only a few people living in the town to guard their homes as most [have] fled,” said a Mindat resident. Nearly 1,000 military personnel are deployed at administration offices in the town. Fighting between the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) and the military in Mindat began in April 2021.
ARAKAN—Twenty Bangladeshi fishermen were detained and their 15 boats were seized by the AA on an estuary of the Naf River along the Burma-Bangladesh border on Tuesday. Khaing Thukha, the AA spokesperson, claimed that the 20 fishermen were “illegally fishing” off the coast of Arakan State.
He added that the fishermen will be returned to Bangladesh after the AA coordinates their release with Bangladeshi authorities. The Burma Navy killed two Bangladeshi fishermen and detained 58 others off the coast of Arakan on Oct. 9. The fishermen were returned home the following day.
KACHIN—A source from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) stated that its administration has been established in Pangwa, which is located 114 miles (183 km) northeast of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina along the Burma-China border. The KIA seized control of the town from the Kachin Border Guard Force (BGF) on Oct. 18.
“Police officers from the KIA headquarters arrived in Pangwa and they are about to work for the administration. Many displaced residents have also come back to the town as the KIA has asked them to return,” a source told DVB. He added that the KIA will establish its administration in other towns that it has seized since it launched an offensive in Kachin State on March 7.
MAGWAY—A resistance group calling itself the People’s Revolution Alliance claimed that it and the CDF Asho killed 10 military personnel during attacks on two army outposts in Ngape Township on Tuesday. Ngape is located around 49 miles (79 km) southwest of the Magway Region capital.
“We attacked the outposts simultaneously for half an hour,” the group’s spokesperson told DVB. The military outposts are located on roads that connect Ngape with Ann Township in Arakan State. Both the People’s Revolution Alliance and the CDF Ashio are closely allied to the AA.
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