Myanmar’s junta has suffered an increasing number of attack by the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) across the country since the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) declared war on the regime.
In a speech on Tuesday, the NUG’s acting president, Duwa Lashi La, called on all citizens to “revolt against the rule of the military terrorists led by [coup leader] Ming Aung Hlaing in every corner of the country by declaring the state of emergency”.
Myanmar has since seen a growing number of PDF explosions and attacks on junta forces and military-owned telecom masts.
Many PDFs urged people to be alert, avoid non-essential travel and help the civilian resistance as more violence is expected.
The military regime’s spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun admitted that attacks on junta personnel had increased in Yangon and Mandalay after the NUG’s announcement.
On Thursday a junta soldier was reportedly killed and three others wounded after a PDF bomb attack in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region.
A Monywa PDF video shows around five junta troops inspecting vehicles on a road being hit by a remote-controlled bomb.
On Wednesday, the PDF in Kale, Sagaing Region, said it ambushed a military convoy on the Gangaw highway using landmines and explosives.
The group said it believed many junta troops were killed in the ambush and PDF volunteers escaped without injury.
Junta soldiers burned down nine Kanthar village homes and killed three villagers, including one who suffers from mental illness, at Doe Nwe village in southern Kale Township, according to the PDF.
Three intense firefights occurred in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region, on Wednesday when troops used explosives while attempting to raid PDF strongholds in the township, according to Myaung’s Civilian Defense and Security Organization.
During the firefights, members of four Mandalay Region PDFs joined the Myaung group to resist the junta forces.
At least nine junta soldiers were killed during two firefights at Myitsone village in Myaung Township on Wednesday, the group said.
The combined force also ambushed approximately 60 military reinforcements in three vehicles arriving at Kyauk Yit village in the township to retake a police outpost seized by the PDF. Another three junta troops were killed, according to the Myaung group.
The PDF set Nabet village’s police outpost on fire on Wednesday in the township, the group said.
“The fighting is in response to attacks by the junta troops on us,” a PDF member in Myaung told The Irrawaddy.
On Tuesday, junta forces blew up a PDF camp in the township.
Five junta soldiers were killed in an ambush in Pekon Township, Kayah State, on Wednesday by the township’s PDF and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF).
In response, junta soldiers killed two civilians on a motorbike, the KNDF said.
Junta troops deployed near Daw Poese village and a police station in Demoso Township, Kayah State, were also attacked on Tuesday.
The Yaw Defense Force said it ambushed two military vehicles patrolling in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region, on Tuesday, reportedly killing nine junta soldiers and wounding 10 others.
Myanmar’s junta is also being attacked by ethnic armed groups in Kachin, Shan, Kayah, Mon and Karen states and Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions.
Since the NUG’s war announcement, the regime is escalating inspections and arrests across the country.
By Wednesday, 1,054 people have been killed by junta forces during their raids, arrests, crackdowns, interrogations and shooting, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
An estimated 7,973 people, including elected government leaders, have also been detained by the junta or face arrest warrants.
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