Myanmar Spring Chronicle – December 28th, 2024
MoeMaKa, December 29, 2024
Events of the Year 2024 (2)
Starting from January 2024, intense battles occurred in the city of Siahsai and its surrounding areas, forcing local residents from tens of thousands of homes to flee. During the first part of 2024, in these battles, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and numerous religious buildings, including Buddhist monasteries highly valued by the local people in the Pao and Ow areas, were also destroyed by aerial strikes. This led to the loss of significant cultural and community heritage, as valuable structures and works of art were lost.
In the Pao region, which is situated between Southern Shan State and Karenni State, fighting involved not only the PNLO/PNLA (Pao National Liberation Organization/Pao National Liberation Army), but also the PNO/PNA (Pao National Organization/Pao National Army), a group allied with the military junta since 2009. The PNLO/PNLA and PNO/PNA have been mobilizing with large numbers of troops and significant financial resources, supported by the military junta. In 2024, reports indicated that the PNA/PNO forces in Pao areas have been actively recruiting new recruits and acquiring weapons. Some reports also documented the conscription of youths seen in uniform and participating in large gatherings in the region, reaching troop numbers between 10,000 to 30,000.
Amid the ongoing political turmoil following the military coup, the situation in the Pao region saw growing tensions between armed groups like the PNA and the military junta’s forces. It is expected that clashes will escalate further in the southern Shan State areas where the Pao people reside.
As for Karenni State in 2024, the fighting initially saw some success in the early stages of the battle for Loikaw city, but later efforts to capture the city were complicated by the ongoing conflict in northern Shan State. The Northern Shan front saw continued efforts to seize Lashio and the northern military headquarters with the cooperation of the Karenni Defence Force (KNDF) and other armed groups. By mid-year, the Karenni Revolutionaries managed a significant military victory with the capture of Phasaung town.
Karenni State was also impacted by natural disasters. Torrential rains during the monsoon season led to severe flooding, affecting areas like Loikaw city, which was already suffering from destruction due to the conflict. Floodwaters and severe weather compounded the crisis, with ongoing military blockades preventing residents from receiving humanitarian assistance. The area also endured more bombings from airstrikes and civilian casualties as homes were destroyed in the crossfire.
Throughout 2024, Karenni forces engaged in numerous battles to capture key locations, including Kokkrate and Myawaddy. These battles, particularly in March and April, involved fierce fighting near key locations like the Than Kyin Nyaung and the Thai-Myanmar border checkpoints. The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), in partnership with the People’s Defence Force (PDF), fought hard to control key areas and disrupt the military junta’s attempts to seize territories. Notably, the battle for Kokkrate and Myawaddy was one of the fiercest, with the Karen forces managing to secure several military camps and strategic points along the border.
Myawaddy city, a key trading hub along the Thai-Myanmar border, became a focal point for intense battles in 2024. In a major development, forces once aligned with the Border Guard Force (BGF), a paramilitary group under the military junta’s control, shifted allegiance to the Karen National Army (KNA). These forces, led by Commander Bo Soe Chit, played a significant role in securing the Myawaddy region, and despite the junta’s efforts to retain control, the city remained under the control of Karen forces throughout 2024.
In the Mon State, a faction split from the Mon National Democratic Party (MNDP), which led to the formation of a new armed group known as the “Mon National Resistance” (MNR), opposing the military regime. Some key members of the MNR had previously been part of the MNDP’s central leadership, including its general secretary. The MNR forces were concentrated in areas such as the Gyaing River and Dhamma Thein village, where they launched attacks on military targets, leading to significant confrontations with junta forces. Despite the MNR’s efforts to capture several villages, including Dhamma Thein, they faced strong resistance from the military, which deployed heavy artillery along the riverbank, resulting in further destruction and casualties.
In addition to these efforts, Mon State saw continuous fighting between PDF groups, KNLA, and junta forces, but no major urban centers or military camps were captured by resistance forces. Some areas, especially around the southern parts of Mon State, saw active resistance from groups aligned with the Karen National Liberation Army, with an increasing presence of armed factions continuing their resistance to the junta.
In certain regions of Mon State, particularly in areas like Ye District and Kyain Tho District, which are home to large Mon ethnic populations, there were clashes between the military and armed ethnic groups aligned with the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), although these regions did not experience heavy fighting compared to other parts of Myanmar.
(To be continued)