United Wa State Army deploys troops to Lashio
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) deployed troops to Lashio on Saturday as fighting between the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the military continued in northern Shan State. Nyi Rang, the UWSA spokesperson, told DVB that its troops entered the town to protect residents, its liaison office, and properties it owns.
“It is correct that the forces of Wa State entered Lashio but we got permission from both [sides],” he said. “We won’t be supporting anyone [in the conflict],” Nyi Rang added. The UWSA claims that it wants peace in Shan State, which is where it governs the Wa Self-Administered Zone or the “Wa State” as an autonomous region, which is de facto independent from Burma.
Fighting between the MNDAA and the military began in Lashio on July 3. The MNDAA claimed to have seized the Regional Military Command there on July 25, but regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun denied the reports as false. The UWSA is allied with the MNDAA, but declared neutrality during Operation 1027. It deployed troops to “protect” Tangyan Township from fighting in northern Shan on July 11.
Thailand pledges $250,000 USD in humanitarian aid to Burma
Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa said on Sunday that Bangkok will provide $250,000 USD worth of humanitarian aid to Burma through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre).
“The benefit [from humanitarian assistance] must truly be available to all the people of Myanmar,” said Maris Sangiampongsa at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Vientiane, Laos from July 24-28.
Thailand previously delivered humanitarian aid to Burma at the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot, Thailand on March 25. The aid reached villages across the border in Karen State, including those located in areas under the control of the Karen National Union (KNU).
Yangon court orders second auction for Aung San Suu Kyi’s home
The Kamayut District Court ordered Aung San Suu Kyi’s home at 54 University Avenue in Yangon to be auctioned off for a second time on Aug. 15. Regime media reported that the starting bid is set as 300 billion kyat ($92 million USD). The first auction was held on March 20 with the price of 315 billion kyat but it failed to draw any bidders.
“Aung San Oo, Suu Kyi’s brother, proposed the court to reduce it to 285 billion kyat but they rejected it,” said a source close to the court. Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest at the lakeside villa under house arrest during a previous military regime until being released in 2010. The National Unity Government (NUG) Acting President Duwa Lashi La signed an order declaring the house a national heritage site on Sept. 2, 2022.
News by Region
BAGO—Nearly 20,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters as of Monday, due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall. The Bago River breached critical thresholds on Sunday, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
“Elders and children were evacuated to shelters and their relatives’ homes. We also conducted emergency evacuations,” said a local charity group spokesperson. Regime media reported on Monday that it has evacuated 18,210 people affected by flooding in Bago Township.
ARAKAN—Nine Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who fled from fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military in Thandwe Township died after Kyaoh bridge collapsed on Saturday. “The bridge collapsed once they crossed it due to the flooding. Children were among the victims,” said a Thandwe resident. Residents have been affected by flooding due to heavy rainfall since July 25.
CHINLAND—Around 5,000 residents of Falam Township fled their homes after receiving news that resistance forces would attack the town. “Many people are still living [there],” said Salai Timmy, spokesperson of the Chin National Defence Force (CNO/CNDF), which is a resistance group based in Falam Township. The CNO/CNDF is a member of the Chin Brotherhood, an alliance of Chin resistance groups allied with the AA.
NAYPYIDAW—Naypyidaw residents said that four men and two women were arrested at a police checkpoint in Tatkon Township for allegedly supporting the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the People’s Defense Force (PDF) on Friday.
“Police checked their phones and ordered them out of the car at gunpoint,” said a Tatkon resident. The military regime has ordered police to inspect the phones of anyone arriving from northern Shan State and to arrest those who’ve posted anything against the military to social media, according to sources close to the police.
SHAN—The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) announced on Monday that it would “protect” the lives, homes and properties of residents in southern Shan as fighting between the Brotherhood Alliance and the military continues in northern Shan.
The RCSS made the remark after a meeting at its headquarters in Loi Tai Leng, located in Mongpan Township. It called on the military to hold peace talks with resistance groups in order to establish a federal democracy. It has met with the military regime since the 2021 military coup.
