Twenty civilians killed in Sagaing Region military offensive

At least 20 civilians have been killed in Butalin Township, located 23 miles (37 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa, since Oct. 11. Six were killed by the military in Sipa village on Oct. 17. Three of the bodies were recovered, burned, decapitated and dismembered, according to a local charity worker.

“They burned the house and killed the elders who were left inside the village as they were unable to flee,” a Sipa villager told DVB. The identities of two of the victims have yet to be identified. They were among over 50 residents, including women and children, arrested by the military during a raid on the village.

At least 380 homes were damaged by an arson attack conducted by the military. The People’s Defense Force (PDF) claimed that it killed 31 regime troops and detained 40 others during an attack on a military column near Sipa village on Sept. 31. Around 5,000 residents have fled from their homes since the military launched an offensive in Butalin Township on Oct. 6.

At least nine dead after boat capsizes in southeastern Myanmar

Nine people have died and 17 remain missing since a boat carrying over 70 passengers capsized in Palaw Township, located around 98 miles south of the Tanintharyi Region capital Dawei in southeastern Burma, on Oct. 20, according to local rescue associations.

“The boat departed from Myeik and capsized about a mile from the shore. The bodies of eight adults and one child have been recovered as of this morning,” a Palaw resident involved in the rescue operation told DVB. Most of the people on the boat were students and women. Forty-seven people have been rescued so far.

Radio Free Asia reported that the boat capsized due to heavy currents in the ocean. The students were returning home from a trip during the Thadingyut holiday. Other passengers were residents who were recently displaced from their homes due to fighting between the PDF and the military in Palaw.

Regime recruits 21,000 conscripts since April

The regime claimed it has recruited at least 21,000 conscripts since the military’s conscription law was activated on Feb. 10, according to the Burma Affairs & Conflict Study (BACS) research group. Six batches of 18 to 35 year-olds have been conscripted into the military since April. The 21,000 conscripts have attended 23 military training schools set up nationwide, the regime added.

“[It] successfully met its recruitment targets, exceeding 20,000 recruits so far. Right now, they’re sending new graduates to the frontline and forcing them into combat,” a BACS research officer told DVB on the condition of anonymity. “Even if they lack both the desire and ability to fight, tens of thousands [of new conscripts] will pose a serious challenge to the resistance if they are armed.”

Lin Chet Aung, a military captain who defected to join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), told DVB that the largest number of conscripts come from Ayeyarwady Region. Regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said that the military aims to conscript at least 50,000 per year. A recruiting target of 5,000 men per week has been set, he added.

News by Region

SAGAING—At least three civilians were killed and more than 10 others were injured during airstrikes conducted 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. 

“Homes were destroyed during fires caused by the airstrike. We don’t know the exact death toll as search and rescue efforts are still underway,” a rescue worker in Kawlin told DVB. Seven civilians were killed and four others were injured by airstrikes on Okkan village Sept. 30. The PDF seized control of Kawlin on Nov. 6, but the military regained control in February.

ARAKAN—Residents told DVB that three civilians were killed and five others, including a boy, were injured by artillery fired by the military at Laungsat village in Ann Township, located 199 miles (320 km) south of the Arakan State capital Sittwe, on Monday. The shells were fired from the Western Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Ann town, residents added. 

The Arakan Army (AA) launched its offensive against the Western RMC earlier this month. Civil servants fled and administration offices were closed on Oct. 10. The AA launched its offensive against the military for control of Arakan on Nov. 13, 2023.

KACHIN—The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) seized control of the 1003 Battalion of the pro-military Kachin Border Guard Force (BGF) near Kanpaikti in Waingmaw Township, which is located around 78 miles (126 km) northeast of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina, on Monday. KIA-led forces launched an attack to take the base on Oct. 16. 

“I heard the KIA seized the outpost on Monday night. It might continue its attack on military targets in Kanpaikti,” a Waingmaw resident told DVB. The KIA seized control of Pangwa, the headquarters of the Kachin BGF, on Oct. 19. It captured the Kachin BGF Battalion 1002 near Pangwa on Oct. 15.

YANGON—Hundreds of homes in Shwepyitha Township have been flooded due to heavy rainfall and winds since Monday. Firefighters have evacuated Shwepyitha residents to temporary shelters. Flash floods hit South Okkalapa, North Okkalapa, Dagon Myothit, and other townships located along the Nga Moe Yeik creek, on Sunday.

“The water level rose very quickly. I saw some homes in two neighborhoods that were damaged because of the wind. Schools shut down on Tuesday,” a rescue worker in Shwepyitha told DVB. The regime’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology predicted that a tropical depression in the Bay of Bengal may strengthen into a cyclonic storm by Wednesday.

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