Senior military officials surender in Lashio
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) stated on Monday that more than 4,000 military personnel, including three senior officers, surrendered after it seized control of the Northeastern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Lashio, Shan State on Aug. 3.
Regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun acknowledged the surrender of its officers at one of its 14 RMC on Sunday. “The senior officials fought in the clashes. We stayed in contact until Saturday night but then we lost contact with them. We have found out that they are being held [by the MNDAA],” he said.
Those arrested include Major General Soe Tint, the recently-replaced head of the Northeastern RMC, Brigadier General Thant Htin Soe, the commander-in-chief at the RMC, and Brigadier General Myo Min Htwe, the chief of the No. 1 Military Operation Command (MOC-1) in Kyaukme, located 68 miles (109 km) southwest of Lashio.
Backlash against Brotherhood Alliance over civilian deaths
Lashio residents told DVB that 100 people, including nine medical workers and 21 civilians, were killed at the hospital located inside the RMC in Lashio before it was captured by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on Saturday.
“The hospital also treats civilian patients,” said a Lashio resident. “Patients who could walk were able to relocate to a safe place, but those who could not died,” said another Lashio resident, whose two relatives were killed at the RMC.
A total of 20 organizations, including the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization (MMPO) and the Myanmar Press Council, issued statements on Saturday condemning the MNDAA for alleged “war crimes.” More than 470 military personnel and their relatives surrendered to the MNDAA at the RMC hospital on Friday. Fighting between the MNDAA and the military began in Lashio on July 3.
Military-proxy party calls for Russia’s support against ‘terrorism‘
Khin Yi, the chairperson of the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), called on Russia to help Burma fight against armed resistance groups he accused of committing acts of “terrorism” on July 30.
“If you recognize this as terrorism, then your departments and agencies that are engaged in the fight against terrorism can join us and together [we can] achieve our goals,” said Khin Yi during an interview with Russian state-run media in the capital Naypyidaw.
Khin Yi requested that Russia’s ruling political party, President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia, cooperate with his USDP more closely. United Russia and the USDP signed a cooperation agreement in June. Moscow has sold military equipment, including combat drones and fighter jets, to Naypyidaw since the 2021 military coup.
News by Region
MANDALAY—The Mandalay People’s Defense Force (MPDF) told DVB that 13 civilians, including two children, were killed and nearly 30 were injured by retaliatory airstrikes carried out on two villages of Singu Township on Sunday. The MPDF accused the military of using cluster bombs.
“The military has continuously conducted airstrikes during clashes that killed and injured civilians,” said an MPDF spokesperson, who added that many homes were destroyed. A total of 129 military personnel surrendered to the MPDF when it seized control of Singu Township on July 17. Fighting between the MPDF and the military began on June 25.
SAGAING—Tigyaing Township residents said that the transportation of coal to the Tagaung Taung mine, which is the country’s largest source of nickel, was suspended. The National Unity Government (NUG) told DVB that the People’s Defense Force (PDF) took control of the mine after security personnel at the mine surrendered to the PDF in late July.
“I don’t know if the project will continue to operate if there is no coal for fuel,” said a Tigyaing resident. The Tagaung Taung mine is backed by China and protected by the military. Regime officials have not yet commented on the suspension of coal shipments to the nickel mine.
SHAN—A source close to the regime’s Ministry of Immigration told DVB that it plans to stop issuing border passes temporarily in Muse, located on the Burma-China border in northern Shan State. Thousands of residents use the two border gates in Muse: Nandaw and Sinphyu, according to the regime.
“We have been hearing that the red book and card [for one border crossing] will stop being issued for three months because of the clashes in Lashio,” said the source on the condition of anonymity. Authorities in Muse must rely on military helicopters to transport documents outside of the town as it is completely surrounded by territory under the control of the Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the MNDAA and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
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The International Conference on Burma Myanmar Studies was held Aug. 2-4. See our photo essay from Saturday’s plenary session: Three Years After the Coup: Situation in Myanmar.
