Brotherhood Alliance announces four-day ceasefire; India calls for release of nationals from cyber scams centers
Brotherhood Alliance announces four-day ceasefire
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) announced Sunday that a temporary ceasefire was put in place in Lashio Township of northern Shan State, near the Burma-China border, during the Communist Party of China’s third plenum meeting, which ends July 18.
“The MNDAA set its ceasefire for four days but there were fighting in Lashio town on Sunday night,” said a Lashio resident. “The military has reached a situation where it is under the worst threat in history. We can say that the regime’s downfall will come soon,” said Kyaw Zaw, the National Unity Government (NUG) spokesperson.
The MNDAA added that it will retaliate against the military if it carries out any attacks against the Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the MNDAA and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), over the next four days. The Brotherhood re-launched its offensive in northern Shan State on July 3 after signing a China-brokered ceasefire with the military on Jan. 11.
Thailand seizes shipments meant for drug production
Thailand’s 3 Plus News reported on Saturday that Thai authorities confiscated 90,000 kg of toluene, a chemical compound which can be used in drug production, at Laem Chabang port in Chonburi Province, located in eastern Thailand. It arrived in six shipping containers from Busan, South Korea on July 8.
“This chemical is very dangerous for mankind. These chemicals can destroy [families], so we have to step up to suppress it,” said an official from Thailand’s Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) at the Ministry of Justice.
According to Thai investigators, the six containers were ordered by a logistics company in Samut Sakhon Province, west of the capital Bangkok, and destined for Shan State via Mae Sot, Tak Province in western Thailand. Thai media reported that those 90 tons of toluene can produce four and a half tonnes of heroin, or 4,500 kilograms of methamphetamine, or 120 million yaba tablets, which is a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine.
India calls for release of nationals from cyber scams centers
India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar called for the release of Indian nationals trafficked to work at cyber scam centers in Burma during a meeting with the regime’s deputy prime minister, who is also the minister of foreign affairs, Than Swe on July 12.
Jaishankar “pressed strongly for the early return of Indians unlawfully detained” in Burma at the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, which was held in New Delhi July 11-12.
BIMSTEC is a regional organization established in 1997. It aims to connect countries around the Bay of Bengal to promote economic growth, trade, and cooperation in areas like transportation, energy and counter-terrorism. Than Swe met with Thailand’s new Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa on July 11.
News by Region
KAREN—The Karen National Union (KNU) stated that 134 civilians have been killed and 439 injured in areas under its control since January. It added that over 2,000 human rights violations were committed by the military, including 96 arrests of civilians.
A total of 1,182 buildings, including 29 religious buildings, 14 schools and four healthcare facilities, were destroyed in airstrikes, artillery and landmine attacks. Over 1.2 million civilians have been displaced from their homes and are now Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since the 2021 military coup.
MANDALAY—Madaya Township residents reported that the military carried out airstrikes on Kyauktada, Bokone, Htonepho villages and the Alpha cement factory on Sunday. The Madaya People’s Defense Force (PDF) claimed that six military outposts were abandoned as the troops were deployed along the Mandalay-Mogok Road, as well as at Mandalay Hill and other public areas.
SHAN—The TNLA announced that 54 civilians have been killed and 82 have been injured in northern Shan since fighting between it and the military began on June 25. It added that the military is conducting retaliatory airstrikes and artillery attacks on areas under its control and more than eight civilians have been killed and injured per day up to July 10.
The TNLA seized Nawnghkio Township after it captured the remaining military outpost there last Wednesday. Fighting continues between the TNLA and the military in Lashio and Kyaukme townships of northern Shan, as well as Mogok Township in Mandalay Region.
YANGON—Residents from Mandalay Region, as well as Arakan and Shan states have fled their homes and become IDPs due to the fighting between the military and resistance forces such as the Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the Arakan Army (AA), and have sought refuge in Yangon.
“The entire bus was full of people coming to Yangon, including children and elders. They said they are fleeing the fighting in northern Shan State and Mandalay as it is no longer safe there,” said a passenger traveling from Shan State to Yangon.
