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Ta’ang National Liberation Army at a ‘stand off’ with military; National Unity Government announces reforms

Ta’ang National Liberation Army at a ‘stand off’ with military 

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) told DVB that it is at a “standoff” with the military’s Artillery Operations Command 902 and Artillery Battalions 354, 206 and 406 in Taunghkam village of Naungkhio Township, northern Shan State. Naungkhio is located 96 miles (154 km) south of the regional capital Lashio and 147 miles (236 km) north of the Shan State capital Taunggyi.

“Currently, there are no reports of fighting in the Naungkhio area and the situation remains calm,” Lway Yae Oo, the TNLA spokesperson, told DVB. Taunghkam is a strategic village 55 miles (88 km) east of Pyin Oo Lwin in neighbouring Mandalay Region. This is where the military’s Defence Services Academy (DSA) and several bases are located. Taunghkam also serves as a link between northern and southern Shan State. 

Fighting between the military and the TNLA over control of the artillery bases began in Taunghkham last October. The military has sent in reinforcements, including troops, weapons, ammunition and supplies through Kyaukgu town in Lawksawk (Yatsauk) Township, 102 miles (164 km) south of Naungkhio. The TNLA, and its allied resistance forces, captured Naungkhio last July. It now controls five districts and 12 townships.

National Unity Government announces reforms

The National Unity Government (NUG) announced reforms to address rising concerns in its leadership and in its finances with some officials being accused of “deviating from the revolutionary path” by the NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La, who added that there’s a possibility of integrating members with leadership capabilities from allied resistance groups into their administration. 

“[The] people interact with our ‘three pa’s’ system every day. The capabilities and ethics of the teams directly interacting with the public are crucial for gaining solid public support and trust,” said Duwa Lashi La, The “Three Pa’s” represents the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), the People’s Administration Teams, and the People’s Security Forces. All begin with the Burmese letter “Pa”.

The PDF under the NUG has been facing scrutiny since the BBC Burmese reported on Sept. 26 that a PDF leader murdered another member in Thityar Aik village of Depayin Township, 86 miles (138 km) north of the regional capital Sagaing, on Apr. 28, 2023. The Yinmabin-Salingyi Strike Committee in Sagaing told DVB in April 2023 that it requested the NUG Interim Local Administration Central Committee take action against its officials for alleged abuse of power

A journalist from Burma opens his Facebook account on a laptop in Thailand on Jan. 15. (Credit: DVB)

Myanmar netizens on Meta’s fact-checking program closure

Concerns have been raised by netizens in Burma after Meta founder Mark Zukerberg announced that his social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and Threads, were ending its third-party fact-checking program to implement a community-driven moderation system, similar to the one rolled out by Elon Musk on his platform X (formerly known as Twitter). 

“With users themselves determining the accuracy of posts, the algorithm would need enough user interaction [likes, shares, etc.] to ensure a post’s reach. As a result, content with controversial or extremist messages could spread more easily while original posts may lose visibility,” said Moe Htet Nay, a political analyst at the Burma research organization Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica.

Meta’s platform Facebook has been criticized for its role in amplifying hate speech and misinformation during the 2017 Rohingya crisis. Amnesty International reported that Facebook’s algorithm contributed to violence against the Rohingya in Burma. Meta’s figures showed that Burma has 18.5 million Facebook users, which is 35 percent of the population. It has 1.75 million Instagram users, or 3.2 percent of the population, as of early 2024. 

News by Region 

AYEYARWADY—The Burma Air Force carried out airstrikes on Magyizin village Jan. 11-12 after the Arakan Army (AA) seized control of it on Jan. 10. Magyizin is located 20 miles (32 km) south of Gwa Township in southern Arakan State, which has been under AA control since Dec. 29. The AA began its attack on Magyizin Jan. 7.

“There are more than 15,000 displaced people, moving to Shwethaungyan, Ngwesaung, Chaungtha, Thabaung and Pathein. We heard there were civilian casualties and fatalities but we don’t know the exact number,” a Magyizin resident displaced from his home told DVB. Shwethaungyan Township residents said that Burma Navy ships are currently deployed off the coast of Chaungtha and Shwethaungyan.  

SHAN—An airstrike was carried out by the Burma Air Force on Kyaukgu town of Lawksawk (Yatsauk) Township on Jan. 10. Fighting in Kyaukgu between the Danu People’s Liberation Army/Front (DPLA/F) and the military has forced residents to flee their homes since early January. The DPLA/F didn’t share the number of casualties from the airstrike.

“The military has conducted aerial bombardment around the town. We have not yet fully secured control,” a DPLA/F spokesperson told DVB. The DPLA/F, established in August 2022, has joined forces with the TNLA. Together, the two ethnic armed groups have seized control of Nawnghkio and Mongmit in northern Shan State, and Mogok in Mandalay Region

The Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) told DVB that five of its members were killed by the pro-military Pa-O National Organisation (PNO) in a village of Hsihseng Township, located in southern Shan State 30 miles (48 km) south of Taunggyi, on Monday. The five PNLA members were killed following fighting with the PNO on Sunday.

“Killing or torturing captured prisoners of war violates both military rules and international law. Throughout our fighting, we have captured many members of both military forces and the PNO. We treat all prisoners in accordance with prisoner of war protocols,” a PNLA spokesperson told DVB, who claimed that there were 20 PNO and military casualties during fighting on Jan. 12.

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,680 MMK)

Read: Migratory bird watchers unable to visit Gulf of Martaban since 2021. Find DVB English News on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads & TikTok. Subscribe on YouTube.

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