Summary of News
- NUG Health Minister discloses thousands of healthcare CDM personnel contributing to the revolution in liberated areas
- Over 7,000 Myanmar nationals apply for Thai entry visas
- Myanmar citizens demonstrate outside military-controlled Myanmar Embassy in Washington DC
- KNU to penetrate strategically significant areas, including Nay Pyi Taw, rather than engaging in urban warfare
- Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) issues call for new recruits committed to overthrowing military dictatorship regardless of ethnicity or religion
- Arakan Army (AA) seizes Ponnagyun Police Station, advances offensive on other military junta bases
- Urban guerrilla group targets Military Security Affairs Auxiliary Force housing in Pyay, Bago Region, using explosive mines
1. NUG Health Minister discloses thousands of healthcare CDM personnel contributing to the revolution in liberated areas
During a February interview discussing the invitation to health workers to work in the revolution, Union Minister of Health Dr. Zaw Wai Soe mentioned that thousands of healthcare personnel engaged in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) are already collaborating with the NUG Ministry of Health as well as ethnic organisations and actively participating in the revolution.
The Union Minister said, “There are approximately four to five thousand healthcare CDM participants who are currently working with both the Ministry of Health and ethnic organisations and are actively involved in the revolution. Additionally, there are some individuals who are not part of the non-CDM who are working under the military council but have not yet joined the revolution either. We extend an invitation to them, with a particular emphasis on prioritising CDM participants. This is because, in accordance with public servant CDM policy issued by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), CDM participants will be recognised and honoured for their dedication until they have secured their life assurance. Furthermore, those CDM civil servants who have joined the revolution will be acknowledged as heroes.”
2. Over 7,000 Myanmar nationals apply for Thai entry visas
According to reports from The Bangkok Post, citing the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 7,000 Myanmar nationals have applied for Thai visas.
The recent enforcement of compulsory conscription by the military junta has led to an increase in the number of young people leaving the country for neighbouring countries.
Thai Prime Minister Mr. Srettha Thavisin stated to the media that Thailand welcomes legal entry, but illegal entry will result in legal action.
“They are welcome if they enter the country legally. But if they sneak into the country illegally, legal action will be taken against them. I have already discussed the matter with security agencies,” Mr. Srettha said.
Reportedly, security measures have been tightened from the 1st Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, connecting Myawaddy and Mae Sot along the Asian Highway, to Phop Phra, and Myanmar nationals are being rigorously checked.
3. Myanmar citizens demonstrate outside military-controlled Myanmar Embassy in Washington DC
On February 22, members of the Myanmar community residing in the United States organised a protest against the military dictatorship outside the Myanmar Embassy in Washington, DC, which is controlled by the military junta.
During the demonstration, they denounced the military junta’s airstrikes and urged the US government to take action on issues concerning Myanmar.
4. KNU to penetrate strategically significant areas, including Nay Pyi Taw, rather than engaging in urban warfare
During an interview, Padoh Saw Taw Nee, spokesperson for the Karen National Union (KNU), expressed that the organisation intends to advance into strategically important territories, including Nay Pyi Taw, given their attainment of territorial control. The interview focused on his visit to the frontline battlegrounds within their operational territories at the end of 2023 and early 2024.
He mentioned that, based on his visit to Thaton District in Mon State, where KNU Brigade 1 is stationed, Nyaunglebin District in Bago Region, the base of KNU Brigade 3, and Kawkareik District in southeastern Karen State, home to KNU Brigade 6, the KNU and revolutionary forces have established control over all rural areas and roads, except for cities.
In Brigade 6, he highlighted that the KNU has complete control over the entire Asian Highway within Kawkareik District (from Myawaddy to Kyondoe), leading to significant territorial dominance. As a result, no longer venturing beyond their bases due to the extensive control maintained by the KNU.
In Nyaunglebin District, KNU Brigade 3’s territory has expanded from rural areas in Kyaukkyi, Mone, and Shwegyin townships to encompass over 60 villages, extending from Kyaukkyi to Penwegon, up to Pyu in the north, and Nyaunglebin and Madauk in the south, on the west bank of the Sittaung River, Padoh Saw Taw Nee said, emphasising that the KNU would avoid unnecessary sacrifices in attempting to capture towns.
Padoh Saw Taw Nee further highlighted the territorial gains made by KNU Brigade 1 in Mon State’s Thaton District, specifically in Bilin, Hpa-An, Thaton, and Kyaikto townships. He mentioned that the revolutionary forces can now freely traverse the main roads as well as the Asian Highway to the neighbouring Hpa-An Town, while military junta forces no longer venture beyond their bases.
Padoh Saw Taw Nee underscored that the military has suffered losses nationwide and will have no land to escape soon. So, the KNU plans to explore penetrating the core of the military regime, Nay Pyi Taw, rather than engaging in unnecessary attacks on towns.
5. Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) issues call for new recruits committed to overthrowing military dictatorship regardless of ethnicity or religion
After publicly expressing its intent to collaborate with anti-military resistance forces and combat the military junta in late January 2024, the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has now announced the recruitment of individuals dedicated to overthrowing the military dictatorship, irrespective of their ethnicity or religion.
Military analysts speculate that the SSPP/SSA has fully engaged in the revolution, as evident by its recent attack on the junta-affiliated Pa-O militia in Mong Pawn in Southern Shan State.
6. Arakan Army (AA) seizes Ponnagyun Police Station, advances offensive on other military junta bases
The Arakan Army (AA) has announced the successful capture of the city police station in Ponnagyun and is now advancing its offensives to seize remaining military junta bases and strategic positions. The takeover of the city police station occurred on February 22. Ponnagyun Town, situated 21 miles from Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, encompasses 94 village tracts with around 200 villages and a population of approximately 130,000, according to the 2014 census. Additionally, it serves as the headquarters for the 550th Light Infantry Battalion, operating under the Sittwe Regional Military Operation Command (ROC).
In addition, the AA has been continuing its effort to capture the No. 9 Military Advanced Training Depot, also known as the No. 9 Central Military Training School, which serves as a major base in Minbya Township. The AA had successfully captured three outposts guarding the base, along with another significant location in Minbya, on February 21.
The AA mentioned its ongoing offensives against military junta bases in Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, and Maungdaw townships, that have refused to surrender.
It was also reported that junta forces in these townships, as well as in Sittwe, which were suffering losses, persist in launching indiscriminate artillery shelling on civilian residential areas. Especially, the military junta has been targeting Ramree (Yanbye), where the AA has gained upper hand, with the aim of destroying the town with daily airstrikes, as reported by the AA.
To date, the AA has seized control over Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Pauktaw, Myebon, and Taung Pyo in Rakhine State, along with Paletwa in Chin State, as part of Operation 1027. Its forces are persisting with their offensive operations to take control of additional townships within Rakhine State.
7. Urban guerrilla group targets Military Security Affairs Auxiliary Force housing in Pyay, Bago Region, using explosive mines
Local news sources report that the Pyay Urban Force, a guerrilla group operating in Pyay, initiated a mine attack on the military security affairs auxiliary force housing in Pyay, located in the Bago Region, during the early hours of February 23, employing eight mines. Based on the entry of ambulances into the housing, the sources suggest that there may be a high number of casualties.
Furthermore, Pyay Underground News (PUGN), an independent local media network, reported multiple explosions within the town, including three near the office of the Road Transport Administration Department (RTAD) and another at a different location around 4:00 a.m. Residents were advised to exercise caution due to the heightened security measures imposed by the junta forces.
#Credit : Radio NUG
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