Seven killed by airstrikes in Sagaing Region
Seven civilians were killed and four others were seriously injured during airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Oakkan village in Kawlin Township, located around 153 miles (243 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa, on Monday.
“The attack took place in the center of the village. Two fighter jets dropped bombs there. I don’t know why they did it as there are no ongoing clashes in the village,” a Kawlin resident told DVB. Villagers have fled their homes in anticipation of more airstrikes.
The People’s Defense Force (PDF) and other resistance groups seized control of Kawlin on Nov. 6, but the military launched a counter-offensive on Feb. 4, recapturing the town on Feb. 11. Duwa Lashi La, the acting president in Burma’s civilian-led National Unity Government (NUG), accused the military of intentionally targeting civilians on Sept. 15.
Resistance forces seize rare earth mining hub in Kachin State
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the PDF captured Chipwi town, which is located in the Kachin Special Region 1 near the China border, on Sunday. It was seized after the KIA and the PDF overran the town’s police station, military base, and checkpoints controlled by pro-regime militias.
“There was intense fighting throughout the day in Chipwi, and bombings occurred,” a Chipwi resident told the Kachin News Group. Residents reported that retaliatory airstrikes conducted by the Air Force caused an unknown number of civilian casualties.
Much of Burma’s lucrative rare earth mining is conducted in the Kachin Special Region 1, including Chipwi. The Kachin Special Region 1 is controlled by the pro-military Kachin Border Guard Force (BGF). Zahkung Ting Ying, the chief of the Kachin Special Region 1 and leader of the Kachin BGF, ordered his troops to prepare for attacks by the KIA and PDF in June.
Military hands over more cyber scam suspects to China
The military handed 313 China nationals suspected of being involved in cyber scam operations to authorities at a border checkpoint in the border city of Ruili, which is located across from northern Shan State’s Muse, on Sept. 26, regime media reported.
They were arrested during a joint operation conducted by Chinese and regime authorities on cyber scam centers in Muse last month. “The law enforcement cooperation will be continuously deepened between the two countries, so as to root out the telecom fraud involving Chinese people in Myanmar,” stated China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At least 557 Burma nationals were also arrested during the crackdown. Chinese state media reports that more than 50,000 of its citizens suspected of being involved in cyber scam operations have been handed over to authorities in China since last year. The military deported 20 China nationals accused of cyber fraud on Sept. 19.
News by Region
CHINLAND—The Arakan Army (AA) provided weapons to the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) Matupi Brigade 1 during a ceremony at an undisclosed location on Sept. 27. The CDF Matupi Brigade 1 is a member of the Chin Brotherhood, a coalition of Chin resistance groups allied with the AA.
“Providing weapons now greatly strengthens the alliance. This type of support is a significant boost for the revolution,” a military analyst told DVB. The CDF Matupi Brigade 1 praised the AA for its “neighbourly cooperation” in the fight against the military in Chinland.
MANDALAY—The Madaya PDF vowed to attack Mandalay despite the military’s ongoing offensives and the threat of airstrikes on Madaya, Singu and Thabeikkyin townships – north of the city – since Sept. 20. The PDF was forced to withdraw from an outpost in Madaya Township on Sept. 21.
“I’m sure that Mandalay will be in our hands when the time comes,” a PDF spokesperson told DVB. The military killed an unknown number of civilians when it set fire to a village in Madaya and conducted airstrikes in Singu and Thabeikkyin, since Sept. 25. The PDF claims it controls eight outposts in Thabeikkyin, 35 in Madaya, and all outposts in Singu since it launched an offensive in Mandalay Region on June 25.
YANGON—Eleven people, including administrators, were injured when explosives placed in bags filled with flood relief supplies simultaneously detonated inside two administration offices in Kyimyindaing Township on Monday, sources close to the administration offices told DVB.
“A bomb went off when people were gathered at the administration office to apply for a biometric [smart card]. Five ambulances transported the injured to hospitals,” a Kyimyindaing resident told DVB. Most of the injured were employees of the offices. The military set up roadblocks in Kyimyindaing following the explosions.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,720 kyat)
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