24th-30th December, 2021

 

On 24 December, the junta’s LIB 108 of the 66th Division killed and burned at least 35 civilians, including four children and two staff members of Save the Children, near Mo So Village, Hpruso Township, Karenni State. Four soldiers from the Karenni People's Liberation Front (KPLF), who negotiated for the release of the detainees, were also handcuffed and shot dead. Many local and international organizations, including the UN Security Council, have condemned the incident which is now known as Christmas Eve Massacre and called for action against the perpetrators.

The KNU troops captured seven junta troops alive during a clash in Lay Kay Kaw, Karen State, on 30 December. The fighting has been going on around Lay Kay Kaw area since 15 December. Despite the military using heavy artillery and airstrikes, the NUG's defense minister told RFA that the KNU and PDF coalition forces are gaining ground and the junta suffering heavy casualties. According to KNU/KNLA No. 5 Brigade records, up to 47 junta troops have surrendered in areas controlled by the KNLA between February and December.

On 24 December, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) attacked and captured two bases of LIB 383 and LIB 384 in Sar Hmaw, Mohnyin District, Kachin State, KIO spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu told the RFA. The Karenni State Police announced that it detained more than 50 military council informants, including police and soldiers.

In Monywa and Rangoon, two wives of military officers were assassinated on 28 and 29 December, according to DVB. Fighting between the military troops and coalition force of local defence forces has been raging in Nat Chaung village in Kale Township, Sagaing Region since 22 December, with more than 20 villagers killed and more than 20 houses destroyed by the junta’s airstrikes and artillery fires, locals told the Irrawaddy.

According to Khit Thit, the coup leader issued a secret order not to accept the arrest warrants and subpoenas issued by the ICC and the court in Argentina for the atrocities committed against the Rohingya in Rakhine State. Brigadier General Nyunt Win Swe, commander of the Yangon Regional Headquarters, has reportedly been placed under house arrest due to violence by his troops in the region. Some artists and NLD members who are being held in Yangon’s Insein Prison have recently been sentenced to hard labour and imprisonment by military-controlled courts, according to the BBC.

On 27 December, US President Joe Biden has approved $777.7bn the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA-2022). The bill was co-authored by Senator Mitch McConnell, a long-time supporter of Myanmar’s democracy movement. Section 6510 of NDAA 2022 sets out for promoting Democracy in Burma by legitimizing the NUG and supporting the CDM movement.