Summary of News
- Auction for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s home fails as no bids received
- PNLO and LDU deny participation in the 7 NCA-S EAO’s plenary meeting in Chiang Mai
- PNLA reports military junta’s continued artillery strikes in Pa-O region and unexploded shells found in villages
- Revolutionary coalition implements enforcement operations along Ye-Dawei Section of National Highway No. 8 (NH8)
- KNU reveals details of Kyaikdon strategic outpost capture: 11 junta troops killed, 66 surrendered, including strategic commander and 12 officers
- Rocket attack targets Yadanarbon Hall owned by son of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Mandalay’s Maha Aungmye township
- ABSDF hosts graduation ceremony for 4th batch of military trainees
1. Auction for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s home fails as no bids received
The auction for State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s family home at 54 University Avenue reportedly failed this morning as no bids were received. Court officials responsible for the auction stood outside the front gate of the house and called for bids three times, but no bidders appeared. Consequently, the auction was declared unsuccessful.
Legal experts suggest that since there were no bidders present at today’s auction, the relevant court will need to announce the date of the next auction. Despite the failure of today’s auction, the court ruling favouring U Aung San Oo, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s older brother, who initiated the demand for the house to be auctioned and the proceeds to be distributed, remains valid, and the court retains the authority to order another auction.
The Kamayut District Court had set a floor price of 315 billion kyats, equivalent to nearly US$90 million, for the auction that took place this morning at 54 University Avenue. This 1.9-acre property was originally given to Daw Khin Kyi, the wife of General Aung San, who resided there until her passing. It is also the same house where Daw Aung San Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest during the previous regime.
The National Unity Government declared the designation of the 54 University Avenue residence as a national cultural heritage site on September 2, 2022, under the signature of Acting President Duwa Lashi La. This declaration prohibits ownership or any attempts thereof, sale or any attempts thereof, destruction or any attempts thereof, alteration of its original structure or any attempts thereof, modification or any attempts thereof, and any form of usage. Individuals or organisations found violating these directives will face legal action under the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Regions Law 2019, the Transfer of Immovable Property Restriction Act 1987, and the Counter-Terrorism Act, and will be blacklisted accordingly.
2. PNLO and LDU deny participation in the 7 NCA-S EAO’s plenary meeting in Chiang Mai
Major General Khun Thurein, the Chair of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), clarified that the organisation had not aligned itself with the statement issued by the summit of the 7 NCA-S Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), which are seven signatories to the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the military.
The summit, led by the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), convened in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from March 17 to 18, 2024, and announced the establishment of the 7 EAO Alliance. The statement also affirmed the seven EAOs’ commitment to resolving the political crisis through peaceful means.
Major General Khun Thurein, Chair of the PNLO/PNLA, former member of 7 NCA-S EAOs which withdrew from peace negotiations with the junta and declared its intention to join the fight against the military regime in January, stated that the PNLO/PNLA did not participate in the summit. He emphasised that the PNLO/PNLA had no input into the summit’s statement. He clarified that the attendance of PNLO patron Khun Okkar at the summit was his personal decision and did not represent the PNLO.
Similarly, the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) declared its non-participation in the summit and cautioned ceasefire members against unauthorized use of the LDU’s name in the future. In a statement released on March 19, the LDU clarified its position, asserting that although the LDU’s name was mentioned in the summit’s statement, the LDU did not attend the meeting. The LDU emphasised that Kyar Salmon and his associates, who participated in the summit, did not represent the LDU, as Kyar Salmon was removed from the LDU central committee and all positions in the LDU since July 8, 2022. The statement strongly condemned Kyar Salmon’s persistent use of the LDU’s name to engage with the military junta and participate in meetings of ceasefire signatories, despite repeated warnings against such actions.
3. PNLA reports military junta’s continued artillery strikes in Pa-O region and unexploded shells found in villages
In a statement issued on March 20, the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) disclosed that the military junta persisted in targeting the Pa-O region through artillery and drone assaults, resulting in the presence of numerous unexploded artillery shells fired by the military junta forces.
Continuing their pattern of consistent artillery and drone attacks, on March 19, military junta forces stationed in Hsaik Hkawng village, Hsihseng township, unleashed more than 20 artillery shells onto Hsihseng town. The PNLA reported that numerous unexploded shells still litter the roads of Hsihseng town and the surrounding villages in Hsihseng township. Additionally, on the same day, military junta forces in Hopong township conducted over 40 artillery strikes in Mel Nei (Lwe Mai) Mountain as part of their routine attacks.
The PNLA emphasised civilian casualties, and the destruction of homes and religious structures in the Pa-O region resulted from the military junta’s daily assaults, underscoring the repeated commission of war crimes.
4. Revolutionary coalition implements enforcement operations along Ye-Dawei Section of National Highway No. 8 (NH8)
According to a statement from the Dawna Column of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) under the Ministry of Defence, a revolutionary coalition, including the Dawna Column, conducted enforcement operations along the Ye-Dawei Section of National Highway No. 8 (NH8) between Malwe Mountain in Mon State and Kaleinaung in Tanintharyi Region. This operation took place on March 19 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The statement reported that the military junta forces stationed at Malwe Mountain closed the road crossing gate and took cover inside it during the coalition’s operation. Additionally, a scouting helicopter and a Mi-35 from the junta’s East Regional Military Command in Mawlamyine were observed but did not engage further.
The enforcement operation also included comprehensive vehicle inspections involving female comrades to engage with female passengers.
This joint operation involved various forces, including the PDF Dawna Column and its affiliated units such as Dawna Squadron 4 (Kanbauk Defence Force-KDF), Dawna Squadron 7 (Dawei Defence Force-DDF), Dawna Squadron 6 (Way Hin Force), PDF Battalion 1 Tanintharyi, Ye Falcon Force, Ye Defence Force (YDF), Ye Guerrilla Force (YGF), as well as the Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF), the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) Battalion 1, Ye Air Force-Stealth Fighter (YAF), and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Battalion 27.
Additionally, the coalition destroyed and cleared a forest camp belonging to the military junta in Ah Lel Sa Khan village, located on the Dawei side of the foot of Malwe Mountain, following the comprehensive vehicle inspection on the highway.
5. KNU reveals details of Kyaikdon strategic outpost capture: 11 junta troops killed, 66 surrendered, including strategic commander and 12 officers
On March 20th, the Karen National Union (KNU) issued a statement providing detailed information regarding the capture of a strategically important military outpost of the junta in Kyaikdon sub-township, located within the territory of KNU’s Dooplaya District in Karen State.
The offensive against the outpost, which operated under the junta’s No. 13 Military Operation Command (MOC-13) and was commanded by Colonel Kyaw Soe Oo, began at 6:00 a.m. on March 13th. The attack was carried out by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) 6th Brigade in collaboration with allied revolutionary forces, following a siege that lasted nearly two months. By the evening of March 14th, 66 junta troops, including Colonel Kyaw Soe Oo and 12 other officers, had surrendered, leading to the successful capture of the outpost by the KNLA-led forces. Eleven junta troops were reported killed and four others injured during the operation. The KNLA-led forces also confiscated a significant cache of weapons and ammunition, including 133 light and heavy weapons, over 10,000 rounds of various ammunition, and other military equipment.
Two members of the revolutionary allied forces lost their lives in the operation, with one additional member injured, along with a civilian who sustained injuries from inadvertently stepping on a mine.
Furthermore, the KNU statement highlighted that during the two-day battle, the military junta conducted a total of 15 airstrikes.
The KNU announced that the 66 junta troops, including the strategic commander and 12 officers who surrendered during the battle, are being treated in accordance with international rules governing prisoners of war (POWs).
The statement from the KNU also noted that fighting continues in the 6th Brigade area, and further announcements regarding additional junta military bases captured will be forthcoming.
6. Rocket attack targets Yadanarbon Hall owned by son of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Mandalay’s Maha Aungmye township
The No More Dictatorship People Defence Force (NMD MDY), a guerrilla group based in Mandalay, declared that it had carried out a rocket attack on the military-owned Yadanarbon Hall, operated by Aung Pyae Sone, the son of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, in Maha Aungmye Township, Mandalay. The attack occurred around 4:30 a.m. on March 19.
Yadanarbon Hall, whose opening ceremony was attended by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing himself on May 17, 2021, is utilized by senior military figures and their families for meetings and events, as well as by junta-affiliated individuals and organizations.
The extent of damage resulting from the attack has not yet been determined. The NMD MDY stated that the attack was a collaborative effort between themselves and the Security & Special Task Force (SSTF-MDY).
7. ABSDF hosts graduation ceremony for 4th batch of military trainees
The All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) organised a graduation event for comrades who completed the fourth batch of military training in the Yaw region on March 18. Thirty-six participants completed the training and took the oath of allegiance during the ceremony.
The ceremony was reportedly attended by members of the ABSDF, members of the local people’s defence forces, and civilians.
#Credit : Radio NUG
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