18th-19th September, 2021

 

On September 18, the Chin National Front and the Chin Defense Force (Thantlang) joint forces attacked the junta troops stationing in Thantlang Town, Chin State, CNF spokeperson Salai Htet Ni told RFA. The Thantlang Times reports that the junta troops retaliated by firing heavy artillery into the town and torched 18 houses and a hotel. According to the CDF-Thantlang, about 30 junta troops were killed in the clashes.

Cung Biak Hum, a church pastor of the Thantlang Centenary Baptist Church (TCBC), who went to extinguish the blaze, was shot dead by the junta troops in the middle of the town, and the junta troops cut off his finger and took his wedding ring, along with his cell phone and wallet, according to a statement of the Chin Baptist Convention. He was survived by his pregnant wife and two children. About ten thousand residents have fled to nearby villages and to Mizoram State, India after the incident. On the night of 18 September, some houses in Hakha, the capital of Chin State, were also caught fired due to the junta’s heavy artillery, according to the Hakha Post.

Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Myitkyina, Kachin State, on 18 September. Along with those attending the event, the junta-appointed Kachin Minister has been heavily criticized on social media for giving the coup leader traditional gifts, including traditional Kachin attire. He was scheduled to visit Putao in northern Kachin State, but his trip was cancelled as the KIA did not allow his security team to use the Myitkyina-Putao road, according to NBung Dat Kasa. Young people and students also protested against his trip in downtown Myitkyina.

The NUG's Minister of Human Rights said that the evidence of mass killings committed by the junta troops in Sagaing and Magway Regions has been submitted to the UN Human Rights Council. A soldier in Monywa, Sagaing Region, took refuge with the CDF-Hakha on 19 September with two guns, according to the Monywa-based PDF team that organized his trip.

According to Myanmar Now, the junta has been deploying troops in Kani area, Sagaing Region, since 16 September. The Irrawaddy reports that the junta is preparing for a large-scale combat operation to attack PDF strongholds in west bank of the Chindwin River.

Labour rights activist Daw Myo Myo Aye detained in Insein Prison has been put into isolation since last week, according to the webpage of Sister-to-sister. At least 35 youths have been arrested and killed in Yangon in the past four days, including one who fell from a building during the raid, according to Myanmar Now.