Summary of News
- The entire Infantry Battalion 143 surrenders to the Three Brotherhood Alliance
- Three Brotherhood Alliance urges junta troops to surrender, promising safety and family reunion
- Chin National Front (CNF) urges coordinated effort alongside Three Brotherhood Alliance’s Operation 1027
- U.S. Treasury sanctions junta-controlled state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)
- Karen National Union (KNU) opposes the proposal to designate the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) as the neutral body for humanitarian aid
- Kim Aris to organize a humanitarian aid fundraiser “Freedom Tattoo Burma Campaign”
1. The entire Infantry Battalion 143 surrenders to the Three Brotherhood Alliance
The entire Infantry Battalion 143, headquartered in Kunlong, northern Shan State, consisting of 41 members, including a deputy battalion commander and two company commanders, surrendered to the Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA). The MNDAA officially announced this news at 8:00 a.m. on November 1, 2023.
According to the MNDAA’s statement, the members of Infantry Battalion 143 had been hiding within the base and awaiting reinforcements since the launching of “Operation 1027” on October 27. On October 28, representatives of the Three Brotherhood Alliance encouraged them to surrender. Following negotiations led by the MNDAA, emphasizing its role as a revolutionary organization under the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party (MNTJP), and ensuring compliance with international rules for POWs (prisoners of war) on October 29 to take care of them, all members of Infantry Battalion 143 laid down their weapons on October 30.
The MNDAA provided 70 million kyats to the 41 members of the surrendering junta troops, 1.5 million kyats each, and escorted them to territory under their control.
The Three Brotherhood Alliance has declared that soldiers, militias, and Pyu Saw Htee members, who, out of love for their country, have been indoctrinated by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and other self-serving military generals, are urged to surrender to ethnic resistance organizations and PDF forces. The Alliance assures their safety and pledges to help them reunite with their families as far as they can.
2. Three Brotherhood Alliance urges junta troops to surrender, promising safety and family reunion
In an official statement released on October 31, the Three Brotherhood Alliance urged military junta troops to surrender their weapons or reach out to them after defection. The Three Brotherhood Alliance pledged to guarantee the lives of those who surrender or reach out, ensuring the preservation of their safety, human and soldier dignity without harm. Additionally, they pledged not to torture or detain them, committing to assist in reuniting them with their families and relatives as much as possible, including providing travel expenses, medical care, and other forms of assistance.
The statement also highlighted that despite having the capability to vanquished the military base housing 50 junta troops within two hours, the Three Brotherhood Alliance opted to spare them as they surrendered in time, ensuring their safe relocation. The statement further noted that over 100 junta troops have already surrendered to the Three Brotherhood Alliance out of a desire not to lose their lives and to be reunited with their families.
Over the course of the five-day operation following the launch of Operation 1027, the Three Brotherhood Alliance has completely taken control over more than 80 military bases and outposts, as well as Chinshwehaw Town and Hpawnghseng Village, which are located on the Myanmar-China border, and Hsenwi Town.
3. Chin National Front (CNF) urges coordinated effort alongside Three Brotherhood Alliance’s Operation 1027
In an official statement released on October 30, the Chin National Front (CNF) called for a coordinated effort among revolutionary forces alongside the Three Brotherhood Alliance’s Operation 1027.
The CNF welcomed and expressed its support for Operation 1027, conducted by the Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), and the Arakan Army (ULA/AA), with the objectives of eradicating the military dictatorship, which is a shared aspiration of the entire Myanmar population, maintaining control over the territory, responding resolutely to ongoing artillery attacks and airstrikes perpetrated by the military junta, and combating the widespread online gambling fraud that has plagued Myanmar.
The CNF extended its congratulations to the Three Brotherhood Alliance for their notable victories in capturing enemy bases and acquiring various military equipment. They conveyed their best wishes for continued success and the raising of the flag of victory in every battle.
The CNF emphasized that this seizure of control over the country by the military and solidarity among ethnic resistance organizations present an unprecedented political opportunity in Myanmar’s history to permanently eliminate the military dictatorship. In light of this, all revolutionary forces are encouraged to actively engage in both military and political efforts in harmony with the Three Brotherhood Alliance’s Operation 1027.
As of now, the Three Brotherhood Alliance has successfully seized over 80 military bases and outposts belonging to the military junta since the launch of Operation 1027. Additionally, the Mandalay People’s Defence Force (MDY PDF) and the Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA) are actively participating in the ongoing fight alongside them.
4. U.S. Treasury sanctions junta-controlled state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)
The United States imposed sanctions on Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), the Myanmar state-owned oil enterprise, on October 31, 2023, for the first time it has directly targeted the entity that is the main source of foreign revenue for the junta. The sanction imposed a ban on financial transactions involving MOGE.
The statement, which was released on October 31 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), indicated that this move was a coordinated action with Canada and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, this new sanctions also involve the designation of three entities and five individuals associated with the military junta.
The Justice For Myanmar (JFM), a group of activists advocating for justice and accountability in Myanmar, has assessed that the US Financial Services directive against Myanma Oil & Gas Enterprise (MOGE) is an initial step by the U.S. to disrupt the junta’s primary source of foreign revenue. It also noted that “it is positive to see increased coordination between Canada, the UK, and the US targeting state-owned enterprises illegally controlled by the junta and the junta’s cronies and arms brokers.”
Three entities targeted by the U.S. new sanctions include Sky Royal Hero Co. Ltd., which was exposed by the UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews on the situation report of human rights in Myanmar for having contracted for repair work on Mi-35M attack helicopters from U.S. sanctioned Russian entities. Additionally, Sky Royal Hero Co. Ltd. has a known relationship with the Burmese defense procurement company, Sky Aviator Company Limited, which has also been previously sanctioned by the U.S.
On October 31, as part of coordinated action, Canada imposed additional sanctions on 39 individuals and 22 entities in Myanmar. These entities and individuals were identified as performing key functions on behalf of the military regime, providing arms, resources, and revenue to the regime, and being responsible for actions that led to democratic reversals and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Among them are the State Administration Council, junta-controlled mining enterprises, crony conglomerates that include Shwe Byain Phu, Star Sapphire and Mottama Holdings, and arms brokers that include Creative Exploration, Miya Win, Synpex Shwe, and Life & Challenge.
The UK’s coordinated sanctions targeting five individuals and one entity on October 31 include the crony conglomerate International Group of Entrepreneur Services Company Limited (IGE) and Tay Za’s sons, Htoo Htet Tay Za and Pye Phyo Tay Za.
JFM emphasized that, given the junta’s ongoing campaign of terror against the people of Myanmar, it is crucial for governments to escalate sanctions to cut off the junta’s access to funds, arms, and jet fuel.
5. Karen National Union (KNU) opposes the proposal to designate the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) as the neutral body for humanitarian aid
The Karen National Union (KNU) has expressed its opposition to the proposal put forth by UN agencies in Myanmar, suggesting the appointment of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the collapsed National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) as the neutral body for humanitarian aid. Contrary to the belief of UN agencies, the KNU clarified that it did not agree to the proposal, pointing out that the attendance of the former KNU Chairman at the junta-celebrated 8th NCA anniversary event on October 15 did not signify the KNU’s support for the proposal.
In an interview with Than Lwin Khet News, KNU spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee stated that, as the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) became null and void following the military’s seizure of power, the KNU could not accept the assumptions made by the United Nations and related organizations and hence issued a letter to express its objection to the proposal.
On October 27, the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), the Chin National Front (CNF), and the Karen National Union (KNU) collectively issued an open letter addressed to UNCT, UNSE, UN, ASEAN member states, and JPF. The letter conveyed their strong opposition to the fact that the military junta, which is blatantly violating international humanitarian law, would serve as a neutral body for humanitarian aid.
6. Kim Aris to organize a humanitarian aid fundraiser “Freedom Tattoo Burma Campaign”
Kim Aris, the younger son of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has initiated the Freedom Tattoo Burma Campaign, starting on October 30. The primary goal of the campaign is to generate funds for 2 million civilians in urgent need of life-saving aid, 20 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, and the families of those unjustly detained by the military junta. The campaign also seeks to raise global awareness about the current situation in Myanmar.
Running from October 30 to December 3, the campaign accepts contributions through fundraising agents in various countries. In the initial phase, individuals can participate by getting a dragon tattoo along with the names of their loved ones. Kim will personally receive a dragon tattoo and the name of Burmese Traditional Boxing Champion Too Too, who sacrificed his life for democracy in Myanmar, to honor him. Too Too was tortured to death while in prison under the military junta.
The second phase of the campaign involves the sale of t-shirts and hoodies featuring the dragon design.
#Credit : Radio NUG
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