Three civilians injured by airstrikes in northern Shan State; At least 22 killed by repeated strikes on Karenni State
Three civilians injured by airstrikes in northern Shan State
Residents of Hsipaw Township in northern Shan State told DVB that three civilians were injured and seven homes in two neighborhoods were destroyed by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Monday. Hsipaw, located 46 miles (74 km) south of the regional capital Lashio, was seized by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) on Oct. 13, 2024.
“Two 500-pound bombs were dropped during the airstrikes. They intentionally targeted civilians,” a Hsipaw resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity, blaming regime forces for the attack. The targeting of civilians is considered a war crime under international law. Residents added that the three injured civilians were taken to hospital.
The TNLA claimed that a total of 22 civilians have been killed and 20 have been injured by previous airstrikes in Hsipaw on Aug. 3 and 9. Nearly 50 homes have been destroyed by airstrikes in Hsipaw and Kyaukme townships of northern Shan this month, according to the TNLA. On Aug. 17, three civilians were killed by airstrikes on Mandalay’s Mogok town, which was seized by the TNLA last year.
Naypyidaw sets date for elections to begin on December 28
The regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Monday that its general elections will begin on Dec. 28, with specific dates for polls in January 2026 to be announced later. Nay Phone Latt, the National Unity Government (NUG) Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, spoke to DVB about the regime elections in an exclusive interview on Aug. 17.
“We call this upcoming process an illegal, sham election. It’s not because we oppose elections itself, but because the authority to organize elections belongs to a legitimate government entrusted by the people — not the military, which seized power illegally. The regime lacks both legitimacy and capability. They don’t have the ability to hold such an election. We already have the results of the 2020 election,” he told DVB.
In 2020, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party won a second landslide victory after taking power with an overwhelming majority in 2015. It was accused of voter fraud by pro-military parties in 2020 and ousted from the government in a coup d’état orchestrated by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing before parliament could convene on Feb. 1, 2021. His regime usurped state power in Naypyidaw. Read more
At least 22 killed by repeated strikes on Karenni State
Residents of Mawchi town in Karenni State told DVB that airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force have killed at least 22 civilians, including five children, and injured 17 others in Hpasawng Township on Sunday. Mawchi is located 84 miles (135 km) southeast of the Karenni State capital Loikaw.
The strike came just hours after a previous attack injured one child and destroyed a hospital and staff housing. “Everyone was in their homes, which led to the high number of casualties,” Banyar Aung, the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC) second secretary, told DVB. The IEC is a provisional government established in 2023 by Karenni resistance groups to oppose the regime which seized power during the 2021 military coup.
Twenty-nine civilians were killed and over 60 were injured in at least eight airstrikes on Mawchi so far this year, according to Karenni resistance forces. The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) seized control of Mawchi in January 2024. It is home to Burma’s largest tin and tungsten mining operations. Read more
News by Region
KARENNI—The Karenni IEC told DVB that regime elections scheduled to begin in December would be “impossible” in Loikaw, Bawlakhe, and Hpasawng townships, which are under regime control. Demoso, Shadaw, Hpruso and Mese townships are under Karenni resistance control.
Banyar Aung told DVB that the election may be possible with online voting as there are at least 210,000 residents living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, according to a Karenni Human Rights Group report on Feb. 3. The state has seven out of Burma’s 330 constituencies.
KAREN—A source close to the regime administration in Myawaddy Township told DVB that there was a temporary suspension placed on all imports at the No. 2 Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge on Monday. Myawaddy is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the state capital Hpa-An.
The source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that hundreds of cargo trucks have been stranded on the Thai side of the border due to inspections, which began on the Burma side on Aug. 14. The regime’s Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee announced restrictions on Aug. 13.
MANDALAY—Residents of Mogok Township told DVB that the TNLA released 84 ethnic Gurkhas on Aug. 14. The TNLA began recruiting 18 to 45 year-old males in the town in March. Mogok, located 129 miles (207 km) northeast of Mandalay, came under TNLA control on July 24, 2024.
Lway Yay Oo, the TNLA spokesperson, denied the use of forced recruitment of Gurkhas in Mogok. She claimed that some serve in its local administration. An ethnic Gurkha told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the TNLA detains family members until recruits show up for service.
TANINTHARYI—Residents of Kawthaung Township told DVB that an unknown number out of 99 deported from Thailand, after release from jail in Ranong, have been taken by local authorities upon their return on Thursday. Kawthaung is located 406 miles (653 km) south of the region’s capital Dawei.
A Kawthaung resident told DVB that 84 men and 15 women arrived from Thailand, adding that this was the first time women were taken by the authorities. Resistance forces claimed that they were taken to the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 262 and transported to Myeik and Palaw for military conscription.
