In the third week of June 2024, Myanmar experienced several significant and violent incidents. These included attacks in townships along the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, the assassination of the abbot of Win Neinmitayon Monastery by the military council’s soldiers and provocative bombings by the Military Council in Northern Shan State.
The Yesagyo People’s Defense Force (PDF) reported that two Military Council’s warships traveling up the Chindwin River were attacked with small arms and heavy weapons for 20 minutes at the border between Yesagyo Township in Magway Region and Chaung-U Township in Sagaing Region. In Seikphyu Township, Magway Region, 10 military council’s soldiers were killed during an attack on a military council’s column and military convoy. Further, a military camp in Pyu Township, Bago Region, was captured by a coalition of Pyu PDF, Tharyawaddy PDF, Alawaka Column, and the Karen National Liberation Army, resulting in the seizure of weapons and ammunition. Fire Dragon PDF reported that 10 military council soldiers were killed in simultaneous attacks on three military bases in Nyaunglebin Township. These events indicate an increase in attacks in local townships near the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway.
At the Batch (12/a) graduation ceremony of the People’s Defense Army (Mandalay) basic military training, it was observed that almost all the trainees were armed with MA guns produced by the military council, demonstrating their ability to use both enemy and their own weapons.
In Ngazun Township, Mandalay Region, the abbot of Win Neinmitayon Monastery and a retired member of the State Sangha Nayaka Committee were shot dead by the military junta on June 19, according to Kanthonhsint Sayadaw, who was also in the car and injured during the incident. This event has increased public opposition and pressure on the military junta. In Northern Shan State, there were violations of the Haigeng Agreement. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) camp in Nawnghkio Township was bombed by the army using a drone, killing two TNLA soldiers. A military council’s warplane also bombed Taungni village in Mogok Township, resulting in the death of one civilian and injuries to three others.
Additionally, one TNLA soldier was killed in another drone bombing of a TNLA camp near Ohmmati village in Nawnghkio Township. These provocations and military expansions suggest that fighting may soon re-emerge in the Northern Shan region.
Fact Check
Fake news: Another Telegram channel supporting the Military Council, named Kyaw Swar, has been disseminating false information alleging that a minister from Bangladesh blamed the Arakan Army for a recent shooting incident on St. Martin’s Island in Bangladesh.
Authentic news: Independent news outlets, however, have reported that a joint secretary-general from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) mentioned illegal weapons being smuggled into Bangladesh from Myanmar through the border. The reports did not attribute the St. Martin’s Island incident to any specific perpetrators.
Fake news: The Telegram channel named Snow Queen, which supports the Military Council, has been spreading false information alleging that two young girls, one of whom has three academic distinctions, were killed by gunfire from the Arakan Army on Pantin Island in Taungup Township, Rakhine State.
Authentic news: However, independent news outlets have reported that the military Council conducted an airstrike on Pantin Island, an area currently devoid of conflict, resulting in civilian casualties.
Fake news: MWD News, the television broadcaster under the terrorist Military Council, has recently shared false information on its Telegram channel, claiming that the abbot of Win Neinmitayon Monastery in the Bago Region was killed by PDF forces.
Authentic news: However, Sayadaw Bhaddanta Gunikabhivamsa of Kanthonhsint Buddhism Learning Center in Mingaladon Township, Yangon Region, who was in the car with the abbot and was injured during the incident, has stated in front of other abbots and monks that the shooting was carried out by the military junta. Independent and reliable news outlets have also cited an internal report leaked by the Military Council in Bago City near Tada-U Airport. The report details that when a security patrol encountered the car carrying the abbot, they instructed it to stop. Because the vehicle did not lower its mirrors and failed to stop when ordered, the patrol opened fire, resulting in the death of the abbot. Another monk and the driver were injured in the incident.