Trade in northern Shan State resumes following ceasefire
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) announced that it had granted permission for the free passage of goods in northern Shan State between “Wa State” and the Kokang Self-Administered Zone on Monday. This followed a ceasefire agreement between the military and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in Kunming, China on Jan. 18.
“Oil and some goods have started to flow back in [to Burma from China],” said Nyi Rang, the spokesperson for the UWSA, which governs Wa State – known officially as the Wa Self-Administered Zone in northern Shan. He added that due to China’s border closure last year, towns in Hopang District located along the Burma-China border face shortages of engine oil and construction materials.
Hopang is located 336 miles (540 km) northeast of the Shan State capital Taunggyi and 92 miles (148 km) east of Lashio. It is one of six townships in the Wa Self-Administered Division. Several border gates, including the Fang Sai bridge, Chinshwehaw, Laukkai and Namtit (Mankha), were reportedly reopened on Jan. 20. The China-Burma border has five key trade posts: Muse, Chinshwehaw, Lweje, Kanpaikti and Kengtung.
Resistance groups accuse regime of drugging its troops
Ethnic armed groups and anonymous sources in the military told DVB that the regime has been giving narcotics to soldiers on the frontline across Burma, which has resulted in a rise of military casualty numbers. Over 30 pro-military Pa-O National Organization (PNO) members killed in recent fighting were allegedly drugged.
“The military has forced Pa-O villagers to take drugs after finishing short-term combat training to fight aggressively, leading to rising fatalities. We’ve heard reports of villagers being shot if they refuse to comply,” said Khun Rein Yan, the spokesperson for the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA), an ethnic armed group which has joined the resistance since the 2021 military coup.
In December, the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) told DVB that detained military personnel confessed that they had been forced to take methamphetamine on the frontline. Resistance forces believe that this may be a military strategy to keep its personnel from considering desertion. DVB requested comment from the regime but received no response.

Four Mon resistance groups unite against military in Mon State
Four Mon resistance groups, the Mon Liberation Army (MLA), the Mon State Defence Force (MSDF), the Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF) and the Mon National Liberation Army – Anti-Dictatorship (MNLA-AD), announced on Sunday that they were unifying to enhance military operations in Mon State. They held a meeting for the newly-established Mon resistance force in an undisclosed location of Mon State on Jan. 17.
“The Ramanya Joint Military Column will establish a base in a strategically suitable location and carry out military operations within Mon territory. Once the column is formed and roles are assigned, active military campaigns will commence,” said Thiri Mon Chan, the head of public relations and communications for the Ramanya Joint Military Column.
Mon ethnic armed groups operate in southeastern Burma’s Mon and Karen states, as well as Tanintharyi Region. The MSRF and the MSDF have been engaged in military operations around Ye Township, which is located 86 miles (138 km) south of the Mon State capital Mawlamyine. The Ramanya Joint Military Column hopes to unite all remaining Mon ethnic armed groups opposed to the 2021 coup. Read more.
News by Region
ARAKAN—Two out of three cargo ships from Bangladesh seized by the Arakan Army (AA) were released on Monday, the Dhaka Tribune reported. The three ships were transporting goods from Yangon to Teknaf, in southeastern Bangladesh, when they were seized by the AA along the Naf River on Jan. 16.
Cargo ships transporting goods from Burma to Bangladesh have been stopped by the AA since it took control of Maungdaw Township on Dec. 8. Syed Mohammad Anwar Hossain, the manager of United Land Port in Teknaf, confirmed the arrival of two ships on Jan. 20. He added that he is awaiting information about the third ship from the AA.
KAREN—Regime media reported on Monday that electricity and internet to cyber scam operations in Myawaddy Township’s Shwe Kokko, located 16 miles (25 km) north of Myawaddy town along the Thailand-Burma border, comes from “other countries.” Myawaddy is 140 miles (225 km) east of the Karen State capital Hpa-An.
It added that from October 2023 to January 2025, 55,711 foreigners have been deported back to their home countries since leaving cyber scam operations located along Burma’s borders with China and Thailand. Chinese nationals made up the vast majority of those deported at 53,388, followed by Vietnam at 1,149, and Thailand at 648.
The Karen National Union (KNU) accused the regime in Naypyidaw of providing security for the cyber scam operations in Karen State through its Border Guard Force (BGF) and other allied pro-military militias. The KNU called for strengthened cooperation among neighboring countries, including Thailand, China, India, Bangladesh, and Laos, to combat transnational crime.
SHAN—The KNDF told DVB that the military launched a counteroffensive in Moebye Township, located 10 miles (16 km) north of the Karenni State capital Loikaw and 94 miles (151 km) south of Taunggyi, which is under Karenni resistance control. More than 300 military personnel from the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 422 began the attack on Sunday.
“The fighting is ongoing and intensifying. Last year, the Burma Army sent reinforcements from Pekon to Moebye and tried to recapture the town,” a KNDF information officer told DVB. The Karenni resistance seized control of Moebye in November 2023. Resistance forces claim to control up to 90 percent of Karenni State, which includes Pekon Township of southern Shan.
Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,640 MMK)