20th-22nd September, 2021

 

NUG's Minister of Natural Resources Dr Tu Hkawng wrote on his social media page that the NUG has been purchasing weapons for the local PDFs and the number reaches more than 5,000. He also added that the NUG is preparing a budget of about $800 million, but he did not mention how the NUG will raise the funds. According to the NUG’s Ministry of Defense, clashes from 1 to 20 September killed about 445 junta troops and wounded 147 others and also killed 93 civilians.

There has been a speculation that Aung San Suu Kyi disagree with the escalation of violence after the National Unity Government (NUG)’s declaration of defensive war. However, she told her lawyers that she would never go against the will of the people before her hearing on 20 September, the Irrawaddy reported.

Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the junta, denied reports that the pastor had been shot dead in Thantlang by its troops. He added that investigation is going on about the shooting. Residents of Thantlang have been fleeing to nearby villages and Mizoram since 18 September, leaving only 28 people in the town, including two Covid patients, according to the Chin World.

On 19 September, seven young activists in Yangon were arrested, and the junta declared that they are responsible for the two bank robberies in August. Netizens have criticized the junta for arbitrarily arresting young people in Yangon and accusing them of being PDF members and committing serious crimes.

A local resident told Burma VJ that the junta troops has been searching for six Chin armed group CNF members that believe to infiltrate into Seik Phyu town, Magway Region, on 22 September. The People's Revolutionary Army (PRA) told the DVB that 10 soldiers from the Magway-based tank unit joined CDM in early September and they assisted them to get contact with the NUG. 

At least three policemen were injured when a Naypyidaw PDF bombed at a checkpoint in Naypyidaw's Lewe Township on 20 September. An unidentified group destroyed a water pipeline of the Myanmar-Wanbao Chinese project in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region, on 20 September, according to DVB.

KNG media reports that about 300 junta troops from Momauk Township, Kachin State, left for areas closed to the KIO headquarters Laiza on 20 September. According to locals, about 1,000 troops have already been deployed in the vicinity of Daw Hpum Yang. On 19 September, an unidentified group opened fire on a person believed to be informing the junta near in Taze Township, Sagaing Region, killing all five members of the family, locals told DVB. 

A member of the junta-appointed Rakhine state council told the BBC that COVID vaccines would also be given to the Arakan Army in Rakhine State. A spokesperson of the AA also told Western News that they would work with the junta on the COVID vaccination program.