Summary of News

1. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) conducts meeting with township-based natural resources management teams

The National Unity Government’s (NUG) Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) organized its 3/2023 meeting with township-based natural resources management teams online on December 3, 2023.

During the meeting, Union Minister Dr. Tu Hkawng delivered opening remarks, emphasizing the ministry’s responsibility in the metal/gems sector and the forestry and environmental conservation sector. He emphasized the importance of proper management of policies, particularly in the mineral/gems sector, due to the increased reliance on natural resources by local residents during the revolution. Additionally, he stressed the significance of conserving the environment in line with conservation policies, including adherence to international environmental standards. The Union Minister underscored the importance of collective leadership and collaboration to overcome difficulties and challenges, emphasizing the crucial role of leaders working on the ground.

Following the opening remarks, officials provided updates on the progress and status of work within their respective sectors.

In attendance at the meeting were district-level resource officers and officers from township natural resource management teams from nine townships across six districts.

2. KNLA declares that it is providing proper care for the family members of junta soldiers from two military battalion headquarters in Mone Town that it has captured

On the night of December 5, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) released that it had well taken care of the family members of the military junta troops taken from the two military battalion headquarters in Mone Town, which it had captured in collaboration with allied revolutionary forces.

During the battle, the combined forces captured roughly 20 junta troops and their family members from LIB 599 and many from LIB 590. The KNLA has ensured the well-being of all those captured, including providing proper care for them. 

The Karen National Union (KNU) announced that there were causalities on both sides, and many of the junta troops, including the rank of battalion commander, surrendered during the town-captured battle.

The operation was a collaborative effort involving Battalion 8 of the KNU/KNLA Brigade 3, Battalion 5 of the KNU/KNLA Brigade 9, the Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA), the Federal Wings Drone Team, the PDF Drone, the Drone Unit of Brigade 3, Yoma Columns 2, 4, and 5, along with other allied revolutionary forces.

3. Six Kokang residents were killed and 10 injured by escaping junta troops during the Kokang clashes

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) announced that the junta troops who had escaped after being defeated in the military bases in Kokang were engaging in war crimes, including capturing civilians, employing them as human shields, and compelling them to lead the way during pursuits and attacks while hiding in Wa Kyi Kyaint village and Su Kyar Kyaint village within Konkyan Township.

The MNDAA noted that the residents of Wa Kyi Kyaint village endured extremely challenging days between November 30 and December 4. Faced with the barbaric actions of the junta troops, local men and women, unable to tolerate them, fought back using knives and swords. This resulted in the deaths of two junta troops and the capture of ten unarmed troops. The captives were later handed over to the MNDAA.

On December 4, MNDAA forces caught eight remaining members of the escaped junta troops at Shokai Kyi junction in Shi Shan region. The MNDAA engaged, shot, and arrested them, resulting in one fatality and seven others being apprehended. The deceased junta soldier held the rank of company commander, and those captured included two members from Light Infantry Battalion 545 (LIB 545), two members from Light Infantry Battalion 547 (LIB 547)—both under Military Operation Command 12 (MOC-12)—and four members of junta-backed militias, as reported by the MNDAA.

Additionally, on December 3, the MNDAA successfully captured a junta troop that had fled from Light Infantry Battalion 520 (LIB 520) based in Mone Kyat village after facing defeat.

4. AA successfully captures Taronai strategic hilltop outpost with two helipads and continues efforts to seize Nonebu strategic hilltop outpost

The Arakan Army (AA) and the Three Brotherhood Alliance revealed on December 5 that in Paletwa Township, Chin State, the AA successfully captured the Taronai strategic hilltop outpost, which includes two helipads, and is continuing its effort to capture the Nonebu strategic hilltop outpost.

The AA stated that it had launched offensives against two strategically important hilltop outposts of the military junta in Paletwa Township—Taronai outpost and Nonebu outpost—starting at 6:00 a.m. on November 14 and successfully capturing Taronai outpost on the 21st day of the offensive on December 4 at around 1:00 p.m.

It was stated that the Taronai outpost was captured amid continuous air attacks, intensive shelling with heavy weapons, and the deployment of bombs containing chemical warfare agents (CWA) by the forces of the military junta, persisting day and night throughout the offensive period.

In the course of the battle, the Arakan Army (AA) reportedly seized the bodies of junta troops and military equipment. However, specific details regarding the number of weapons seized and the casualties on both sides were not disclosed.

The statements from the Arakan Army (AA) and the Three Brotherhood Alliance expressed their sincere respect for all the Arakan troops who valiantly fought, sacrificing their lives and bodies during the battle to capture the Taronai outpost.

5. Intense clashes erupt between TNLA and military junta forces across Northern Shan State in Kyaukme, Namkhan, Hsipaw, and Kutkai

On December 5, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) reported intense clashes with military junta forces across four townships in Northern Shan State: Kyaukme, Namkhan, Hsipaw, and Kutkai.

The TNLA initiated simultaneous offensives against military junta outposts and bases in four townships on December 5: the military base in Monglon Town, Kyaukme Township (PSLF/TNLA Brigade 2 territority) at 5:30 a.m., the Sakhanthit hilltop outpost in Namkhan Township (PSLF/TNLA Brigade 1 territory) at 9:15 a.m., the outpost in Mongwee village, Namkhan Township (PSLF/TNLA Brigade 3 territory) at 8:30 a.m., the outpost in Samhpeik village, Hsipaw Township (PSLF/TNLA Brigade 2 territory) at 9:00 a.m., and the outpost in Nam Hpat Kar village, Kutkai Township (PSLF/TNLA Brigade 5 territory) at 6:45 a.m.

In the course of these battles, the military junta forces extensively utilized artillery shelling. Additionally, the TNLA reported that the military deployed air strikes a total of 16 times during the battle at the Sakhanthit hilltop outpost.

6. Karenni Alliance successfully captures junta outpost in Pun Chaung village, Loikaw, resulting in nine deaths and capture of 10 junta troops

The Karenni Alliance, comprising the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KPLF), the Karenni National People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF), the People’s Defence Force (PDF), and other revolutionary forces, successfully captured the frontline outpost of Infantry Battalion 72 in Pun Chaung village, Shadaw Township, Kayah (Karenni) State. This operation resulted in the deaths of nine junta troops, with 10 others captured.

The Karenni alliance forces initiated the offensive against the frontline outpost of Infantry Battalion 72, where approximately 20 junta troops were stationed, on December 1. In response, the military conducted counter-bombardment using helicopters. Subsequently, in the midnight hours of December 2, the remaining junta troops attempted to escape from the outpost but were intercepted and attacked by the Karenni alliance forces. Then, the Karenni alliance forces successfully captured the outpost on December 3.

Captain Nay Lin Aung, the outpost commander, was reportedly captured; however, the Karenni alliance forces have not provided further details. Since the launch of Operation 1111 on November 11, the Karenni alliance forces have targeted and occupied at least 20 outposts belonging to the military junta.

7. Three Brotherhood Alliance asserts that the military has started arbitrarily oppressing the general public in order to prolong the military dictatorship

The Three Brotherhood Alliance asserts that the military, in an attempt to prolong the lifespan of the military dictatorship, is imposing arbitrary measures on the general public. The statement was made during the release of updates on the 40th day of Operation 1027 on the morning of December 6.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance has declared, “During Operation 1027, the junta is blatantly violating the war crimes by intentionally targeting civilians and engaging in daily arrests of residents for endless days,” adding, “Its personnels are continuously committing war crimes such as arresting civilians, using them as guides, porters, and human shields during their isolation.”

The statement further asserted that in the regions under their administration, the military junta is conducting unlawful home raids, arrests without proper warrants, house torching, and confiscating the personal belongings of residents. Additionally, the military junta has been committing human rights violations by imposing its “four cuts strategy” on civilian populations, which includes prohibiting the trading of essential food items to block the flow of goods and create shortages and suppressing local media outlets to control information flow and telecommunication services.

#Credit : Radio NUG

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