Two children from Burma die during flooding in Thailand
A migrant workers assistance group in Mae Sai, Thailand told DVB on Wednesday that two children from Burma died due to a lack of medical attention during flooding that hit five locations and affected 150 migrant workers and their families living in Chiang Rai Province.
“Burmese workers reached out for assistance after being trapped by the floodwaters. A Burmese woman called us and said over 20 people were trapped, including eight children. We could not get more details because her phone battery died,” Nyan Tun, a member of the migrant workers assistance group, told DVB.
At least 100 Burma nationals were rescued from their homes and taken to a monastery in Mae Sai. Rescue teams have struggled to organize relief efforts due to the strength of the floodwaters. Thai authorities stated that a total of 1,091 households in the province have been impacted by the flooding. The remnants of Typhoon Yagi arrived in Burma this week resulting in floods that have displaced an unknown number of people from their homes.
Conflict analyst calls military attacks ‘air terror campaign’
David Mathieson, an independent analyst on conflict and human rights in Burma, spoke to DVB. He responded to remarks made by Min Aung Hlaing during a visit to the Shan State capital Taunggyi on Sept. 3 that his military would launch retaliatory attacks in areas controlled by resistance forces.
“I think we’re just seeing the Myanmar Air Force and the Myanmar military writ large, just intensifying an already intensive, air terror campaign,” said Matthieson. “We can only really call them revenge strikes, purposely targeting [civilians].”
Over 67 people have been killed by airstrikes in Maungdaw and Pauktaw townships of Arakan State since Sept. 9, stated the Arakan Army (AA). At least 20 civilians have been killed in Namkham and Pekon townships of Shan State since Sept. 5, according to the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC).
One killed escaping conscription in Tanintharyi Region
One man was killed while attempting to escape with 27 others from a boat transporting them to the Palauk Military Training School in Palaw Township of Tanintharyi Region on Sunday. Two soldiers were killed by the 28 men, who were among 270 military conscripts being sent for training.
“They were divided into smaller groups and were sent to the training center by boat. One group overpowered two soldiers, seized their guns, and beat them to death before escaping,” an anonymous source close to one of the escapees told the Dawei Watch news agency.
The anonymous source added that the 27 men have now been transported to territory under the control of the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) – the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) – with assistance from the People’s Defense Force (PDF). A Karen State news agency reported that most of the 270 conscripts had been recently repatriated from Thailand to Burma.
News by Region
KACHIN—The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the PDF seized a police station in Saitaung village of Hpakant Township, located 106 miles (170 km) northwest of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina on Thursday. A KIA source told DVB that police and soldiers fled the village.
The Kachin News Group (KNG) reported that retaliatory airstrikes carried out by the Air Force caused casualties and significant damage. Military personnel were also reportedly taken as prisoners of war. Fighting between the KIA and the military began in Saitaung on Sept. 6.
AYEYARWADY—Bogalay Township residents told DVB that around 40 men have been forcibly conscripted into the military by local regime officials in southern Ayeyarwady Region. Some of the men are reportedly over the age of 40. The military conscription law stipulates that men aged 18 to 35 must serve for at least two years. Experts up to 45 can also be conscripted.
“They weren’t selected through any formal process but they were instead forced to join when they were taken from their homes during raids,” a family member of one of the men told DVB. The men are reportedly being held at a military base in the Mon State capital Mawlamyine. The punishment for conscription evasion is 3-5 years in prison or a fine.
SHAN—The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) claimed that the Air Force carried out airstrikes on a coal mining factory in Nampaung village of Lashio Township, northern Shan State, on Tuesday. Three buildings in the factory, which were destroyed, have been under MNDAA control since July.
“No one was injured as the factory was empty for quite a long time. The buildings are even deteriorating with lack of maintenance,” said a Nampaung resident. The MNDAA seized full control of Lashio after it captured the Northeastern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters on Aug. 3.
TANINTHARYI—Four civilians were killed when residents of Kwalhtainkone village of Tanintharyi Township were attacked by the military on Wednesday. “There were casualties, including fatalities, when [military] drones dropped bombs on [us],” a Kawlhtainkone resident told DVB. The military launched an offensive in Kwalhtainkone on Wednesday.
Check out our photo essay from the opening night of the Limbo Festival hosted by a new Thai-Myanmar arts collective in Chiang Mai.
