Hi folks, China continues to warn ethnic armed forces to stop attacking the regime, while the coup leader is set to visit China next month. At the same time, the Chinese consulate in Mandalay was targeted with a small bomb, prompting a condemnation from the NUG.
To be honest, the people of Myanmar have valid reasons to dislike China due to its involvement and open support for the regime. No country has backed the resistance like China has supported the junta. Nevertheless, we must respond thoughtfully. The military often tries to paint the resistance in a negative light and may stage acts of terrorism; we know they are capable of that.
On a positive note, we are proud of the imprisoned Lawyer Daw Ywet Nu Aung, who was awarded the International Human Rights Prize this week, placing her alongside figures like Nelson Mandela. Read the highlights below:
Internal Affairs
- Regime forced civilians into security roles after Pinlebu surrender
Following the fall of Pinlebu town in Sagaing Region to resistance forces, Deputy Military Leader General Soe Win ordered the rapid formation of a civilian unit to aid the military. On October 14, a week after the town’s surrender, he made an urgent visit to the North West Regional Military Headquarters (NAMA) in Monywa, instructing the establishment of the “Public Security and Anti-Terrorism Team.” This team will provide civilians with basic military training and task them with gathering intelligence on resistance movements and providing security. While these civilians are expected to handle roles like guarding instead of direct combat, the military has not clarified whether they will receive weapons or salaries. The military’s move forces locals to participate unwillingly in a dangerous security role, making them tools in the regime’s strategy to combat resistance forces, regardless of the human cost.
- Coup leader said armed demands will not be met
The coup leader Min Aung Hlaing said on October 15 that the armed demands would not be settled because the conflict could only be resolved peacefully by coming to the political table. This statement was made in a speech on the ninth anniversary of the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). He claimed that some ethnic armed groups violated the NCA commitments and supported the National Unity Government (NUG), which emerged after the coup, leading to the destruction of the country’s peace and stability. Additionally, he mentioned that the three northern alliances, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF), the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLO), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and the Karen National Union (KNU) had launched counter-attacks. Despite the ongoing clashes, the regime declared that it would continue in the same direction as the NCA.
- Junta extended census amid attacks and casualties
On October 16, the regime announced that the 2024 census will be extended until October 31. Initially conducted from October 1 to 15 by over 42,000 personnel, the census extension will cover areas where it could not be completed due to various challenges. Although the junta-controlled media announced the extension, they provided no information on where the census was successfully conducted in the initial period. The census process has faced violent disruptions, particularly in Sagaing and Mandalay regions, as well as Tanintharyi and Chin States, where census teams were attacked, arrested, and in some cases, killed.
- BACS reported over 21,000 new recruits in military, many forcibly enlisted
The Burmese Affairs and Conflict Studies Group (BACS) reported on October 19 that over 21,000 recruits have joined the regime’s forces across 23 military academies. The report indicates that the council successfully recruited 5,000 trainees for Military Training Batch 1, and more than 4,000 for Batches 2, 3, 4, and 5. While recruitment for the first two training courses was relatively straightforward, subsequent courses saw a rise in forced conscriptions and hired replacements. Although junta spokesperson General Zaw Min Tun claimed that new recruits would not be sent to the battlefield, many have been deployed to conflict zones such as Shan and Rakhine States, where fighting is intense. Over 13,000 personnel have already graduated, and some have died in battle.
- NUG condemned attack on Chinese Consulate in Mandalay
On October 19, the National Unity Government (NUG) condemned the bombing of the Chinese Consulate in Mandalay on October 18, calling it a terrorist act that threatens diplomatic relations. The NUG criticized the regime for inciting anti-Chinese protests under a nationalist pretext, linking these actions to historical Chinese-Myanmar tensions. The NUG reaffirmed its commitment to resolving conflicts through diplomacy and condemned any actions that may escalate ethnic or religious discord in Myanmar.
International Affairs
- Australia pledged $9 Million in humanitarian aid to Myanmar
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on October 14 that Australia will allocate $9 million to support those affected by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar through the Australian Humanitarian Aid Partnership. In her statement, Wong highlighted the deteriorating political situation in Myanmar, which poses significant implications for regional peace and security. Currently, Myanmar faces a crisis with 3.4 million internally displaced persons and 18.6 million individuals in need of humanitarian assistance. The Australian aid aims to reach those most vulnerable and will not be directed to the military junta, which Australia does not recognize as an official government.
- Justice for Myanmar criticized ASEAN for endorsing regime
On October 14, the Justice for Myanmar group condemned ASEAN for allowing the junta to host a meeting of ASEAN naval commanders. The group argued that this not only legitimizes the regime but also endorses its atrocities against innocent civilians, including killings, rapes, and the bombing of schools and hospitals, which have caused mass displacement. The Justice for Myanmar group emphasized the urgent need to halt funding to the regime, calling for international actions to prevent the acquisition of military equipment and jet fuel. They also demanded that the regime be held accountable under ASEAN and international laws, urging support for the efforts of the Myanmar people to build a new Myanmar.
- Min Aung Hlaing set to visit China in November
AFP reports that the coup leader Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to visit China next month. This will be his first trip to China since the coup. The visit comes after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to Myanmar in August, which has reportedly strengthened ties between China and the regime. China has been increasingly involved in supporting the military’s efforts, particularly regarding the election program the junta aims to implement.
- China urged KIO/KIA to cease attacks on regime
On October 17, a Chinese government delegation led by Deng Xijun, the special representative for Asian affairs, met with the leadership of the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) in Yingjiang, Yunnan province. The diplomats urged the KIA to halt its attacks on the military regime. However, sources indicate that the KIA did not accept this request and continued its offensives against regime camps in Panwah and Chiphwe towns, located along the China-Myanmar border. The Chinese government has been exerting pressure on ethnic armed groups near its border, including the KIA, United Wa State Army (UWSA), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), to encourage compromises with the military regime.
- Imprisoned Lawyer Daw Ywet Nu Aung received international human rights award
Prominent Myanmar human rights lawyer Daw Ywet Nu Aung, who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor by the military junta for providing legal aid to political prisoners, has been awarded the 2024 Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize. This prestigious award is given annually by the Institut des droits de l’homme des avocats européens (IDHAE) to a lawyer advocating for human rights globally. Daw Ywet Nu Aung is the 29th recipient of this prize, which has a notable history, with its first award presented to Nelson Mandela in 1985 while he was imprisoned. The IDHAE recognized Daw Ywet Nu Aung for her commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and the fight against racism and intolerance. The award ceremony took place in Rome on October 18. The National Unity Government’s Human Rights Minister U Aung Myo Min will accept the award on behalf of Daw Ywet Nu Aung, who is currently incarcerated in Mandalay’s Obo prison, according to the NUG.
Business Matters
- Forever group announced business suspension and mass layoffs
Forever Group, a major privately-owned broadcasting company, has decided to suspend several of its businesses and implement mass layoffs between June and July. An employee from Forever Group, which operates various media outlets, including MRTV-4 and Channel 7, reported that terminations were made without prior notice. In 2023, the company had over 1,000 employees, but it was estimated that 600 to 700 staff members, including those with over a decade of service, were laid off by mid-2024. Currently, only around 300 employees remain with the company, primarily those who have a favorable relationship with management. Since the coup, numerous employees have faced unpaid suspensions, and some have been employed multiple times without receiving regular wages.
- Junta earned $1.8 Billion from foreign exchange market amid economic risks
According to The Economist on October 17, the junta earned approximately US$1.8 billion from the foreign exchange market in the year leading up to June. Starting in 2022, the regime mandated that exporters exchange a quarter of their foreign earnings at the central bank’s set price of 2,100 kyat per US dollar, while the remainder is exchanged at an online rate of 3,500 kyat. As a result, around one-third of exporters’ income is extracted by the junta, which is more than the military’s annual expenditure. The Economist warns that such exchange rate policies could lead to an economic collapse, as the excessive printing of money distorts commodity prices and disrupts overall economic stability.
- Regime set low rice reference price, half of market
The regime has set a basic reference price of 950,000 kyats per 100 baskets of rice, approximately half the current market price, according to farmers speaking to RFA. This decision, made by the leading group for the protection of farmers’ rights and interests, led by Lt. General Soe Win, was announced on October 18. The junta stated that if the market price exceeds the reference price, the merchants must purchase at the market rate, but if it falls below, they will buy at the designated rate. However, with the council’s reference price being significantly lower than external market prices, farmers are justifiably worried that brokers and traders may exploit this situation to undervalue their crops.
- Regime intensified inspections on foreign goods amid crackdown on illegal trade
Business sources have revealed that the junta is actively arresting and inspecting foreign goods transported in trucks and cars across Myanmar. Since early October, the regime has mandated joint teams of police, military, and customs officials to conduct strict inspections on the streets as part of a campaign against illegal trade. Any foreign products lacking proper import licenses or documentation are subject to arrest and scrutiny, with drivers facing prosecution under the Export Import Law. Individuals and businesses importing goods without authorization will be prosecuted under this law, which carries penalties of up to three years in prison, fines, or both.
Humanitarian Affairs
- Displaced residents from Gwa tsp, Rakhine faced extortision at military checkpoints
Since early October, many people fleeing Gwa Township in southern Rakhine State, where fighting has increased, have reported being extorted for large sums of money at military checkpoints. To pass through the Ayeyarwady Region, they need a stamped document from the General Administration Department. Those without a support letter from the local administration are especially targeted. Since the fighting began on August 10, when the Arakan Army (AA) attacked Gwa Township, the military administration there has broken down, making it hard for residents to get the necessary letters. As a result, many have to pay bribes at checkpoints to get through.
- Over 10,000 residents displaced by clashes in Pinlaung tsp, Shan State
As of October 18, over 10,000 residents from Pinlaung Township in the Pao Autonomous Region of Southern Shan State have fled their homes due to intense clashes between the regime’s forces, militia groups and the Pao National Liberation Army (PNLA). Since the beginning of October, residents from 13 villages have been forced to evacuate. Many are currently seeking refuge in Pinlaung and in the surrounding forests, where they face urgent shortages of food and medical supplies.
- 1,000 people trapped near Chinese border due to Panwah battle in Kachin State
On October 18, locals reported that about 1,000 residents and mining workers were trapped near the Chinese border due to ongoing fighting near Panwah in Kachin State. A resident told RFA that since the fighting intensified on October 17, the entrance to the Chinese border has been closed, preventing people from crossing. They are also unable to escape along the Chiphwe-Myitkyina road because of the intense fighting and closed roads. In addition to being stuck at the border, some individuals are fleeing into the jungle to find safety, while others are seeking refuge in places like Christian churches.
- Junta forcecibly repatriated migrant workers into military service
The junta is reportedly forcing Myanmar migrant workers held at the Ranong immigration detention center to return home and join the military. Repatriations are occurring in 14 districts of southern Thailand, mainly targeting undocumented migrants and those with expired permits. A source from Kawthaung said that after these individuals are received by the junta’s officials, they are taken to military camps for evaluation. Those eligible for military service are then sent to training schools in the Tanintharyi Region.
Attacks on the Junta’s Lackeys & Assets
- Regime’s traffic police injured in Mandalay shooting
On the evening of October 13 in Pyigyidagun Township, Mandalay City, a traffic policewoman was injured in a targeted attack as the regime’s people were conducting vehicle checks. The incident occurred on the busy 62nd Street, between 124th and 125th streets. A total of 10 personnel, led by a police chief and including traffic police officers in civilian clothes, were examining vehicles when they were shot at. The 35-year-old female deputy officer was hit in the chest and is reportedly in critical condition. Following the shooting, soldiers arrived at the scene and began stopping pedestrians and checking phones. They also stopped and searched motorcycles in the area. Residents mentioned that the shooter may have been tracked through security cameras. Military supporter Telegram pages claimed that two men on a motorcycle were responsible for the attack.
- Regime administrator shot dead while conducting census in Nyaung-U, Mandalay Region
On the morning of October 14, in New Bagan, Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region, a regime administrator conducting a census was shot and killed. Ko Saw (also known as Ko Saw Li), aged around 50, was the administrator of Anawrahta Ward in New Bagan. According to a local resident, he was shot by a gunman while on his way from his neighborhood to the Ywarthit block to carry out the census. A teacher accompanying him was also injured in the attack and is currently receiving treatment at Nyaung-U hospital. Following the incident, the army blocked the area and conducted searches of civilians in the vicinity.
- Two Pyu Saw Htee members killed in resistance raid in Kawthaung tsp, Tanintharyi Region
On October 16, the Kawthaung Township PDF announced that two members of Pyu Saw Htee were killed when resistance forces raided a gathering of census takers in Kawthaung Township, Tanintharyi Region. The attack took place on the night of October 15, while ward administrators and Pyu Saw Htee members were celebrating the completion of the census. During the raid, resistance forces opened fire, killing U Naung Ni and U Ba Oo. Both were members of Pyu Saw Htee, as well as part of the regime’s public security and anti-terrorist group. From October 1 to 15, over a hundred personnel conducted the census in Kawthaung Township, but they were unable to cover the entire area, focusing only on certain parts of the township, according to residents.
- Three regime policemen killed in ambush in Sagaing tsp, Sagaing Region
On October 16, in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region, three policemen were killed, and one soldier was injured when regime forces sitting in a tea shop were ambushed by resistance fighters. The attack occurred near Naungtawgyi Pagoda in Minkun (South) when about 14 regime soldiers entered the shop. Deputy Superintendent Naing Htay, Deputy Superintendent Le Win Tun, and Deputy Sergeant Zaw Min Naing died on the spot, while a sergeant sustained severe injuries. Following the shooting, regime forces retaliated by opening fire on the surrounding area, injuring four civilians. Two are in critical condition and were taken to Mandalay for treatment. The shop and eight nearby houses were also reportedly set on fire.
Arbitrary Arrests, Killings & Violence
- Six anti-dictatorship activists in Yangon tortured during interrogation
It has been reported that six young anti-dictatorship activists in Yangon were severely tortured and interrogated following their arrest. Four youths, including Ko Zaw Lin Htut (aka Ko Phoe Thar), Ko Aung Min Khaing, Ma Mya Myintzu, and Ma Hnin Ei Khaing, were detained after a protest on September 19 demanding lower commodity prices and the abolition of conscription. They endured severe torture during their interrogation before being transferred to Insein Prison on October 11. Two other activists, Ko Shein Wai Aung and Ko Paing Phyo Min, were arrested under the pretext of guest list checks on October 9. They remain in custody and are reportedly still being tortured. All six detainees are in their early twenties and active in Yangon’s anti-military flash movements. On October 10, Amnesty International called attention to the dangers faced by the two activists currently undergoing interrogation, stressing that the military must be held accountable for their treatment.
- Regime troops killed 14 civilians including children in Budalin tsp, Sagaing Region
This month, at least 14 civilians, including the elderly and children, were killed during army raids in Budalin Township, Sagaing, where the regime is losing ground to resistance forces. At the beginning of the month, over 100 troops from the Northwestern Military Command, based in Monywa, raided villages near Budalin. Among the casualties, six family members, including a child, were killed in Budalin, seven civilians were killed in Myauk Kyi Village, and one person was killed in Tat Hlaing Village. On the morning of October 12, soldiers reportedly massacred a family in Bandula Ward at a grocery store. The victims were U Pho Kyar, his wife Daw Thin, their 25-year-old daughter, 16-year-old son, a 7-year-old girl, and a child under 5 years old.
- Airstrikes in Enai Village killed three and injured two in Laship tsp, Shan State (north)
On October 14, the regime’s air force bombed Enai village, near Lashio in northern Shan State, killing three local men. Seven bombs were dropped on the village, approximately 8 miles west of Lashio, injuring an elderly woman and a four-year-old child. Although the MNDAA had previously stationed forces in Enai village, it is no longer present, according to a source close to the group. The airstrike damaged a hall inside the Kachin Baptist Church, a preschool, and about five homes. Since the MNDAA captured Lashio in August, the regime has carried out 16 airstrikes, resulting in at least 11 civilian deaths and 50 injuries.
- Over 100 residents fleeing rakhine fighting arrested by the regime’s soldiers
On October 16, over 100 residents fleeing the ongoing conflict in Ann Township, Rakhine State, were arrested by the military council along the Ann-Padan highway towards Magway. Local residents reported that 15 cars carrying those escaping the conflict were stopped at Kyeekantaung and Six Mile gates in Ann Township. Ten cars were detained at Six Mile and Pepa Dom Gates, but the whereabouts of the other five vehicles remain unknown. A local from Ann stated that they have not been able to contact those arrested. Fighting continues between the regime’s forces and the Arakan Army (AA) in Ann Township, with AA forces firing heavy artillery at the Western Military Headquarters while the military responds with airstrikes.
- 64 men abducted and forced into military service in Hlaingthaya tsp, Yangon
On October 15, 64 men were reportedly abducted at the Dagon Ayar Highway Station in Hlaingthaya Township, Yangon, by an unknown group of individuals in civilian clothes claiming to serve the military. According to one of the escapees, the group targeted men walking alone, forcibly recruiting them as porters and threatening or beating them into compliance. The abductees were taken to a location where uniformed soldiers conducted blood tests and haircuts. Soldiers reportedly interrogated and beat those who did not respond or attempted to leave.
Armed Resistance
- TNLA captured Hsipaw in Shan State (north)
After more than two months of intense fighting and airstrikes, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) fully captured the town of Hsipaw in Northern Shan State on the afternoon of October 14. The regime’s last standing camp 23rd Infantry Battalion, located about a mile north of the town, was seized on that afternoon. The TNLA, along with allied forces, began their assault on Hsipaw and the nearby regime’s Infantry Battalions (503) and (504) on August 9. Despite heavy resistance from the regime, which employed air support, the TNLA continued their advance and captured key positions, marking Hsipaw as the 12th city taken during the TNLA’s 1027 operation. The capture of Thipao extends TNLA-controlled territory up to Mogok in Mandalay. The two-month long battle resulted in nearly 40 civilian deaths, with many homes destroyed by heavy artillery and airstrikes from the regime forces.
- Fierce clashes broke out on Myeik-Pulaw Road in Tanintharyi Reigon
Since October 14, fierce clashes have been ongoing between the local resistance forces and the regime’s forces on Myeik-Pulaw Union Road in Pulaw Township, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region. The PDF’s Myeik District No. 1 Battalion, in collaboration with resistance alliance forces, is battling against the military, which is using aerial missile strikes. An official from the PDF urged civilians to avoid traveling on the Myeik-Pulaw-Dawei Union Road due to the ongoing fighting. Despite the airstrikes, there have been no reports of civilian casualties so far. The intensity of the battle continues, and updates will follow.
- Regime’s launched counteroffensives on Hakha-Thantlang route in Chin State
Intense fighting has been reported between Chin resistance forces and the junta’s forces in the area between Thantlang and Hakha, the capital of Chin State, continuing until the morning of October 17. On October 12, the regime’s forces launched a counteroffensive with two columns from Hakha, involving dozens of soldiers. During the battle, regime forces in Hakha opened fire with heavy artillery, and airstrikes forced the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) to abandon one of their camps. The Chin National Army and Chin Regional Defense Forces have been targeting regime camps along the Hakha-Thantlang route since July 22. Over more than 90 days, the army has conducted hundreds of airstrikes. The Chin forces believe this counteroffensive is part of an effort to maintain control over Hakha and prevent Thantlang from falling to resistance forces, while securing the strategic area between the two cities.
- KNLA & Allies captured key military base in Karen State
A spokesperson for the Karen National Union (KNU) confirmed that the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied forces successfully attacked and captured the Military Council’s Suyetawkone base near Laykaykaw New Town, Myawady Township, on the morning of October 17. During the attack, the KNLA seized prisoners of war and military equipment. According to KNU spokesperson, the base is of strategic importance, as it helps the Military Council maintain control over Myawady. Hundreds of troops were stationed there, though some—including key military strategists—fled during the assault. The base had served as a key hub for providing heavy weapons support in battles near Myawady, and the KNLA had been fighting for over three months to take control of it.
- KIA took control of Panwah, a key China-Myanmar town in Kachin State
KIA spokesman Col. Nawbu confirmed that Panwah Town, located on the China-Myanmar border in Kachin State, is now under the control of KIA and allied forces. The KIA has begun clearing operations in and around the town following their occupation on October 18. A video released by a Kachin military source shows the removal of Border Guard Force (BGF) signs from Panwa, a town known for its role in Chinese rare-earth mining and cross-border trade. This occupation may disrupt shipments of valuable rare earth minerals, which are crucial for products like cell phones and cars, potentially cutting off a significant revenue source for the junta.
Source: Myanmar Now, Khit Thit Media, RFA Burmese, Mizzima News, The Irrawaddy
