Talks between regime and Ta’ang National Liberation Army end
Peace talks mediated by China between the regime in Naypyidaw and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) ended on Monday due to difficulties in reaching an agreement, the TNLA announced on Wednesday. The talks between regime officials and nine TNLA representatives, including Vice Chair Tar Jok Jar, began on Sunday in China.
The TNLA added that it proposed a ceasefire in areas where both forces are present, a halt to offensive operations on both sides, including drone strikes, heavy artillery attacks and airstrikes, and travel permission for civilians to transport food and medicine. The regime’s proposal has not been disclosed as of yet.
China’s Special Envoy to Burma Deng Xijun mediated the talks. The TNLA claimed that the military launched nearly 200 artillery rounds and bombed four villages in Nawnghkio on Saturday—one day before the talks began. Eleven townships in northern Shan and Mogok Township in neighbouring Mandalay Region are under TNLA control.
Malaysia discusses Myanmar crisis with Brunei
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra discussed Burma during a meeting with the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah in Brunei on Tuesday. Malaysia is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Thaksin is an informal advisor to Anwar.
“No effort should be spared to continue the engagement process [in Burma] with all relevant stakeholders,” Anwar shared on social media. He referred to the ASEAN Five Point Consensus, which is the regional bloc’s peace plan for Burma. It was agreed to by regime leader Min Aung Hlaing in April 2021 but not implemented upon his return to Naypyidaw.
Malaysia stated that it is concerned about the “flourishing” illicit economy in Burma, which is largely driven by the drug trade, human trafficking, and cyber scam operations. It appointed Othman Hashim as its ASEAN Special Envoy on Burma, who met with resistance groups in Thailand to discuss three out of the five points included in the consensus on Feb. 8. But the details of the meetings were not reported.
Thailand shuts down migrant worker aid group office
The authorities in Thailand shut down the office for the Aid Alliance Committee (AAC), an organization assisting migrant workers from Burma in Thailand, on Thursday. This comes two days after local authorities inspected the AAC office in Mahachai, Samut Sakhon Province of Thailand. The AAC Director Khaing Gyi told DVB that 100 migrant workers from Burma were staying temporarily at the office.
“The Deputy District Chief ordered us to close, stating that our organization is not officially registered [under Thai law]. They also checked the workers temporarily sheltering at our office. Most of them arrived through the MOU agreement [with Burma] but are now unemployed due to various reasons, including workplace rights violations or injuries,” added Khaing Gyi.
The Deputy District Chief of Samut Sakhon Province, along with police and security forces, conducted an inspection of the AAC office on Feb. 18. Workers at the office were fined, and their passports and residency permits were seized. Since 2014, the AAC has assisted migrant workers from Burma with labor disputes, workplace injuries, documentation issues, and temporary accommodation while in Thailand.
News by Region
KACHIN—Seven members of a family, including three children aged 3, 5 and 10, were killed by an airstrike carried out by the Burma Air Force in Wa Ngan village of Momauk Township, Kachin State, on Wednesday. Momauk is located 40 miles (64 km) southeast of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina.
“The bodies were scattered and the house was completely destroyed,” a Momauk resident told DVB. Another airstrike was reported in nearby Nang-I village, which injured six civilians. Momauk is 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Bhamo, where the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been fighting the military for control since Dec. 4.
KARENNI—The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) told DVB that nearly 100 military conscripts who recently completed training have defected to resistance forces during fighting in Moebye Township since January. Moebye is located 100 miles (160 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi and 27 miles (45 km) north of the Karenni State capital Loikaw.
“The military is sending those forcibly recruited under the conscription law to the frontlines. The KNDF and allied groups have arranged basic necessities for them,” a KNDF spokesperson told DVB. Fighting against the military has intensified in Moebye, which has been under Karenni resistance control since November 2023.
SHAN—The TNLA claimed that three civilians were killed and four others were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Air Force – two days after peace talks between the TNLA and regime ended in China – on Wednesday in Nawnghkio, located 96 miles (156 km) south of the regional capital Lashio.
“[Regime] forces are deliberately targeting civilian areas,” the TNLA stated on Feb. 17. The regime signed a ceasefire agreement with fellow Brotherhood Alliance member the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) during the second round of China-brokered talks on Jan. 18.
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