Regime says dialogue will solve Myanmar’s crisis
Min Aung Hlaing claimed that armed conflict is not the solution to Burma’s crisis since the 2021 military coup, and that it should be resolved peacefully through “political dialogue.” The regime leader made the remark during a televised speech that aired on Tuesday to mark the ninth anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), which was signed by the military and several ethnic armed groups in 2015.
“We can only come to a political dialogue and resolve conflicts peacefully. However, I want to make it clear that we will not compromise with the demands of armed terrorists,” he said, referring to anti-coup resistance groups. Min Aung Hlaing blamed “powerful countries” for negatively impacting Burma’s economy, which he claimed has caused the crisis. He went on to warn that these actions are “creating a new form of colonialism.”
A meeting was held to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the NCA in Naypyidaw on Oct. 15. Attendees included representatives from the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the KNU/KNLA Peace Council (PC), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS). From Sept. 1 to Oct. 11, the Burma Air Force has killed 235 people and injured 277 in 148 airstrikes nationwide.
Min Aung Hlaing to visit China in November, sources state
Two sources close to the military told the AFP News Agency, on the condition of anonymity, that Min Aung Hlaing will make his first visit to China since the 2021 coup next month. “The trip has been planned since Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar [in August],” one of the sources told AFP.
Relations between Beijing and Naypyidaw have been strained, with many Burma-China political analysts believing that the Chinese government gave its tacit approval to the Brotherhood Alliance to launch Operation 1027 on Oct. 27, 2023 over the regime’s failure to crack down on cyber scam centers along its 1,370 mile (2,204 km) long shared border.
Since August, Beijing has sent two of its diplomats to Naypyidaw. Regime media reported that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi endorsed the regime’s election plans, which are tentatively scheduled for November 2025. Min Aung Hlaing visited Russia, a close ally to the regime, and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022.
What’s really happening in Sagaing Region?
Zaw Tuseng, the founder and president of the Myanmar Policy Institute (MPI), told DVB that the civilian-led National Unity Government (NUG) should assist anti-coup resistance groups in Sagaing Region by setting up an administrative body that has the authority to address local grievances.
“You can tackle these local issues by giving local bodies, or regional lawmakers, and also other actors [in Sagaing Region] a forum to work together to solve their issues collectively at the local level,” said Zaw Tuseng.
The death of 16-year-old student Myint Myat Oo in Wetlet Township led to criticism of the NUG from the All Burma Federation of Students Union (ABFSU), which denounced “undocumented civilian deaths” and “acts of cruelty” in areas under NUG control. The NUG People’s Administration Teams, People’s Security Teams, and People’s Defense Teams, are operating in 188 townships nationwide.
News by Region
ARAKAN—A total of 29 civilians have been killed, and at least 60 others have been injured, by airstrikes conducted by the Air Force in Arakan so far this month. “The regime put the blame on civilians as they are losing the war against the Arakan Army [AA],” Wai Hin Aung, a rescue worker, told DVB.
Arakanese civil society groups and the AA have urged the public not to gather in groups during the Thadingyut holiday Oct. 16-18 due to the threat of airstrikes. Eighty-eight civilians were killed and at least 135 were injured by airstrikes in Arakan last month, according to data collected by local media.
AYEYARWADY—More than 70 prisoners from Pathein Prison, including female inmates, were transferred to an unknown location by regime authorities on Monday. “We were not told about this and don’t know where they have been taken out and why. We are worried,” a relative of one of the prisoners told DVB. Family members have not been able to contact the transferred prisoners.
SAGAING—A resistance group calling itself Twenty–Four Drone claimed that it and other groups conducted drone strikes on the Northwest Region Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Alone town of Monywa Township while regime deputy Prime Minister Soe Win was visiting on Tuesday.
“We attacked the headquarters as soon as we heard about Soe Win’s visit. We attacked it with two drones. They did not return fire,” a spokesperson of the group told DVB. An Alone resident told DVB that the military patrolled streets to provide security during Soe Win’s visit.
TANINTHARYI—The Myanmar Humanitarian Action Center (MHAC) stated that more than 140 men were arrested in Myeik, located around 152 miles (245 km) south of the Tanintharyi Region capital Dawei, on Tuesday. They were among a group of around 200 people traveling from Arakan and Mon states.
“They are planning to go to Thailand from Kawthaung for work. They [detained] all young men after inspecting the crowd. I think they took them away for military service,” Ye Min, MHAC spokesperson, told DVB. Conscription aged men seeking to travel to Thailand, via Kawthaung, have been stopped from leaving the country. The military reportedly released women and elders who were among the 200 travelers.
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