In the early days of the revolution against Myanmar’s regime, clashes were limited to Shwekyin, Kyaukkyi, and Mone townships in Bago Region where the Karen National Union’s (KNU) Brigade 3 is active. Clashes have since spread to the western bank of the Sittaung River.
Lately, there have been fierce clashes in Kyauktaga Township a few kilometers from old the Yangon-Mandalay road. The regime reportedly suffered heavy casualties in the fighting and had to bring in air support.
A remote-controlled mine attack on a truck in Nyaunglebin District on August 18 has suggested the junta is losing control over the Yangon-Mandalay road and train line and other parts of Bago.
The area was a stronghold of the Communist Party of Burma and Karen resistance forces between 1948 and 1975. This forced the Ne Win regime to form light infantry divisions to crush the revolt. Bago’s hills have again proved to be fertile soil for revolution.
Resistance forces raided junta troops in Thamin Inngon village near the old Yangon-Mandalay road on August 9, leading to nine hours of fighting with the regime suffering around 30 fatalities and the resistance reporting one death.
Clashes have taken place in Thamin Inngon and Nanza villages since mid-July, with several townships in Nyaunglebin District experiencing frequent clashes since January.
While junta shelling and air attacks have increased in the area, the regime is conducting fewer ground attacks, said a resistance fighter.
“As their forces have been depleted, they can’t conduct assaults every day now. They would gather 100 to 150 troops and attack occasionally. Resistance forces have crossed the Sittaung River and are near the old [Yangon to Mandalay] road. We control a sizeable area,” said the fighter.
As the fighting intensifies, it has become important for both regime and resistance forces to have control over the Sittaung Basin in the east of Bago. Nyaunglebin District is close to the Bago Range and both the new and old Yangon roads.
To the north of Nyaunglebin, Taungoo, Yedashae and KNU Brigade 2-controlled Thantaung are adjacent to Naypyitaw, the nerve center of the regime. Southern Nyaunglebin is 74km from Bago and 157km from Yangon.
People’s Defense Forces, under the civilian National Unity Government (NUG), and other groups under the KNU are conducting Operation Salmon to penetrate the Bago Range.
The NUG’s southern commander U Tin Oo said the mission is to control the Sittaung Basin.
There were 96 clashes in Nyaunglebin District, including on the western bank of the Sittaung in July. The regime suffered an estimated 166 casualties and carried out 12 air raids in the clashes, said the KNU.
Apart from surprise attacks on junta bases, resistance forces also target bridges to cut off junta reinforcements and supplies. In June, resistance forces blew up three bridges between Kyaukkyi and Penwegon towns. They also carried out coordinated attacks on four junta bases and a police station.
KNU spokesman Padoh Saw Kalel Say said: “The regime has not yet carried out attacks to retake the bases that they have lost. It appears that they are only trying not to lose other bases. If we have control over the lower part of the Sittaung Basin, it will create a lot of difficulties for them. As the area is heavily populated, it is crucial both politically and militarily. They are trying desperately to retake it.”
The regime is using militias known as Pyu Saw Htee and police officers in assaults along with daily shelling and air strikes, said the KNU.
Thousands have been displaced by ongoing junta raids, arson and shelling in Nyaunglebin District, said the KNU.
“They conduct indiscriminate shelling as well as bombing raids on places they think are suspicious to prevent attacks on bases. The people suffer heavily,” said Padoh Saw Kalel Say.
Previously, the KNU’s military activities were restricted to the eastern bank of the Sittaung but since the 2021 coup the KNU has crossed the river, the KNU’s Foreign Affairs Department chief Padoh Saw Taw Nee told the Burma News Network.
“The regime cannot respond if we attack in the area,” he said.
As revolutionary forces now have greater control west of the Sittaung, they will soon threaten eastern Bago Yoma, said a military analyst.
“They will have control over Bago Yoma. There are already revolutionary forces operating in Bago Yoma and if they can build bases they can threaten the whole area. They will then have control of the Yangon-Pyay road and penetrate the Ayeyarwady delta,” he said.
The KNU and resistance forces are now operating west of the Sittaung, carrying out surprise road checks and imposing a nighttime travel curfew. They warn residents that junta troops are increasingly using civilians as human shields.
Padoh Saw Taw Nee said: “The fighting on the [old] Yangon-Mandalay road means we are getting closer to Yangon.”
The NUG has also launched its “all roads to Naypyitaw” operation in Mandalay, Bago, Yangon and Ayeyarwady regions and Naypyitaw.
