FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM

The Brotherhood Alliance’s Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) stated on Dec. 15 that three civilians were killed and more than 30 houses and a school were damaged during its six-day fight to seize Namhsan Township, located in northern Shan State, from the military. 

Further north and closer to the China border, Muse Township residents told DVB on Dec. 14 that a military base located near the 105-Mile Trade Zone, one of the busiest border trade posts, was seized by another Brotherhood Alliance member, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). 

Beijing-brokered talks between the Brotherhood Alliance and the military led to a temporary ceasefire being agreed to for the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, located in northern Shan State, on Dec. 11 in Kunming, stated China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning and Myanmar’s regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun.

“The conflict in northern Myanmar has been notably de-escalating, which not only serves the interest of relevant parties in Myanmar, but also helps ensure peace and tranquility at the China-Myanmar border area,” said Mao Ning at a press conference on Dec. 12.

The Brotherhood Alliance members, the MNDAA, the TNLA, and the Arakan Army (AA) issued a statement the same day reaffirming that it will continue its fight “to end dictatorship” in Myanmar.

It launched Operation 1027 on Oct. 27. Since then it has seized about 300 military bases, varying in size from small to large, and at least six towns from the military.

“China is negotiating as much as it can to find common ground [between the military and the Brotherhood Alliance],” said Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar political analyst specializing in the China. 

DVB data states that 604 members of pro-military forces surrendered or defected to the resistance forces, including the Brotherhood Alliance, nationwide. This includes 460 military personnel, 102 police commanders or officers, and 42 militiamen.