Hello / Mingalaba. From this time onward, we will read and present m.CDM’s domestic news.
Today’s news includes:
- The military junta carried out airstrikes in Depayin, Kyauktuu, Mindat, Kawlin, and Kani townships. One woman was killed and many people were injured.
- An attack on a vehicle carrying junta troops on Union Highway No. 2 in Chauk Township killed 10 soldiers, including an officer.
- Malaysia says ASEAN will not send election observers to the junta’s election, and will not recognize or endorse the results.
- NSP PDF warns residents in Seikphyu not to hold gatherings and not to use loudspeakers due to junta air attacks.
…along with other news items.
1) Airstrikes in Depayin, Kyauktuu, Mindat, Kawlin and Kani: one woman killed, many injured
m.CDM – January 20
The Depayin Township People’s Administration announced that the junta carried out an air attack on Pyankya Village in Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, using a jet fighter from Meiktila Air Base.
The airstrike occurred at about 10:55 p.m. on January 19. One woman was killed and some civilian-owned buildings were burned and damaged.
This was also the second air attack Depayin Township suffered in a single day on January 19.
In Magway Region, Saw Township, two IDP camps in the Kyauktuu area were bombed without provocation by junta forces using a jet fighter, according to Yaw Alin Tan.
The statement said that on January 20 at 4:08 p.m., 4:11 p.m., and 4:13 p.m., a jet fighter from Magway Air Base dropped three bombs in three separate strikes.
Four elderly male IDPs were injured in the bombing; one was initially reported to be in critical condition.
In Sagaing Region, in an area on the eastern side of Kawlin Township, the junta also conducted air attacks using a jet fighter and “kamikaze UAVs” (suicide drones), according to Kawlin Revolution (KR).
At about 2:15 p.m. on January 20, a jet fighter from Tada-U Air Base dropped two bombs, and suicide drones were also used. The group reported widespread damage and many casualties.
Similarly, in Chin State, two locations at the entrance to Mindat were hit by airstrikes twice at about 3:15 p.m. using a jet fighter, according to Hkl Mindat.
In addition, at around 11:25 a.m., in Shan Myaung Village, Kani Township, Sagaing Region, two gyrocopters from Monywa’s Northwest Command (NaMaKha) carried out an unprovoked attack, damaging one civilian home.
2) Junta column leaving Myotha Industrial Zone attacked with “padesa mines”; many soldiers killed on the spot
m.CDM – January 20
A statement said that a junta convoy of about 150 troops traveling in six vehicles from Myotha Industrial Zone toward Myotha town was attacked by the Ngan Zun Guerrilla Unit of the Special Task Force, which planted “padesa mines” at two locations. Many soldiers were reported killed instantly.
The clash happened on January 19 while the junta column was allegedly forcibly seizing food supplies, gold, and cash from two roadside homes, when it came under attack.
After the fighting, the junta reportedly loaded bodies onto a light truck and retreated toward Myotha, then entered Myotha West Village and forcibly seized gold, cash, rice, and cooking oil from some civilian homes.
3) In Falam Township, Chin resistance forces seize two junta hilltop outposts; a 200+ troop convoy from Kalay climbs into Chin Hills
m.CDM – January 20
Frontline sources said Chin resistance forces launched an assault at around 9:00 a.m. on January 18 on two hilltop outposts held by the junta near Sumran Village in Falam Township, Chin State. After a battle lasting about one hour, they captured both positions at around 10:00 a.m. on the 20th.
The junta had reportedly been positioning forces in Sumran Village and preparing to launch an offensive toward Falam; Chin forces attacked preemptively.
The fighting caused casualties on both sides. The junta reportedly carried out heavy airstrikes using jet fighters and Y-12 aircraft, dropping more than 30 bombs, and Chin resistance forces also suffered losses.
After the battle, Chin forces were able to control the outposts, but reportedly had to withdraw due to intense air attacks.
It was also reported that at around 9:00 p.m. on January 19, the junta dropped at least four bombs—including 500-pound bombs—around Sumran Village and near Falam.
In addition, a convoy of more than 200 troops from Kalay (Sagaing Region) was reported moving toward the Siyin area in the Chin Hills. On the morning of January 20, it departed along the Kalay–Thaing Ngin road with three armored vehicles and five 12-wheel trucks, and was reported to be currently between Hein Zan and the coffee plantations.
4) Attack on a vehicle carrying junta troops on Union Highway No. 2 in Chauk Township: 10 soldiers including an officer killed
m.CDM – January 20
Magway District Battalion No. 1 released a statement with video footage saying an attack on a vehicle carrying junta troops on Union Highway No. 2 in Chauk Township resulted in the deaths of about 10 soldiers, including an officer.
The statement was about an attack that occurred on January 18. It said the ambush killed around 10 junta troops, including an officer from “Bo Eain 60” in Chauk town, and that many others were injured.
The attack was jointly carried out by Magway District Battalion No. 1, Magway District Battalion No. 3, and SR-7 (Magway Region Special Operations Battalion-7).
5) In Taungtha, junta column hit with drone bombs and guerrilla attacks
m.CDM – January 20
Taungtha People Defence Force announced they carried out drone bombings and guerrilla attacks against a junta column operating in villages of Taungtha Township, Mandalay Region.
They said that on January 16, a junta column of around 200 troops crossed through Kyaukpadaung Township and entered Taungtha, spending the night in Ywathalay Village.
The next day the column moved onward through several areas and stayed overnight in Htanoung Kone Village, where Pyu Saw Htee forces are present.
Along the route, Taungtha People Defence Force (😭.A PDF) and allied forces carried out drone bomb drops and guerrilla attacks.
On January 18, the column departed Htanoung Kone and traveled via Pudahtsa Kone and Kanthayar villages to reinforce forces in Taungtha town.
The statement said this column is expected to provide security for the junta’s “sham election” scheduled in Taungtha on January 25.
6) During 2025: 2,550 clashes with junta forces; 973 resistance fighters killed
m.CDM – January 20
Spring Revolution Database (SRD) reported that in 2025 there were 2,550 direct clashes between junta forces (and associated groups) and resistance forces, and 973 resistance fighters were killed.
According to SRD’s collected data, the most frequent clash locations were Sagaing Region (525 incidents), Magway Region (460), and Bago Region (350). January recorded the highest number of clashes, with 276 incidents.
SRD said 973 deaths were documented on the resistance side, but noted that information on undocumented deaths and casualty lists from EROs such as AA, KIA, MNDAA, TNLA, and KNU is difficult to obtain, so only accessible data could be recorded.
SRD’s data reportedly shows: 669 PDF members, 192 from the NUG Ministry of Defence, 52 from EROs, 57 from Pa Ka Pha, 1 from Pa Ah Pha, and 2 urban guerrillas were killed.
SRD also reported that in 2025, junta arson attacks destroyed 7,627 civilian homes. The highest numbers were in Mandalay Region (1,904 homes), Magway Region (1,887), and Sagaing Region (about 1,858).
7) “No Fallen Stars—Armor Up” campaign: Strategy 47 Yinmabin calls for participation
m.CDM – January 20
Strategy 47 (Yinmabin-based) invited the public to participate in the “No Fallen Stars—Armor Up” campaign.
The fundraising campaign began on January 20 and will end on February 20, aiming to buy ballistic vests and helmets for 30 frontline fighters.
Organizers said the goal is to protect fighters’ lives on the front line, and appealed to the public for support to reach 55.5 million kyats. They said a full set of uniform, boots, body armor and helmet costs 1.85 million kyats per fighter.
They said donations can be arranged via the Strategy 47 page messenger, the Thanlwin Myanmar News page messenger, or through a logistics volunteer named “Ma Shwe Juu,” and that support can be sent via K Pay, Wave Pay, NUG Pay, and SDB accounts.
😎 NSP PDF warns Seikphyu residents: avoid gatherings and loudspeakers due to air attacks
m.CDM – January 20
NSP PDF (Seikphyu Northern People’s Defence Force) issued a warning urging people in Seikphyu Township, Magway Region, not to hold gatherings and not to use loudspeakers because junta air attacks have increased.
The warning, dated January 19, said villages in Seikphyu are being attacked from the air.
NSP PDF said paramotors have arrived at KaPaSa 22 (a Seikphyu-based junta weapons production factory) and that villages are now being attacked without provocation from the air.
They urged residents—especially in villages across Seikphyu Township and in the northern part of the town—to stay alert, listen for aircraft and paramotor sounds, and immediately take shelter in bunkers or protected locations if they hear them.
9) Malaysia: ASEAN will not send observers to the junta election and will not recognize or endorse the results
m.CDM – January 20
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told parliament on January 20 that ASEAN will not send election observers to the junta’s ongoing three-stage election, and ASEAN will not recognize or endorse the election results.
According to Reuters, the minister said ASEAN had already stated it would not dispatch observers, and because of that it would not validate the election outcome.
Reports also said that at an ASEAN summit held in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, Myanmar requested ASEAN to send election observers, but ASEAN rejected the request—though some member states may decide independently to send observers.
It was also reported that in the first stage of the election, the military and its ally, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), won 88% of the parliamentary seats it contested, and that voter turnout in the second stage was very low.
10) At the ICJ, Myanmar military lawyer says genocide is the “most serious accusation” and cautions against sweeping measures
m.CDM – January 20
At the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Myanmar’s legal counsel, Mr. Christopher Staker, reportedly argued in the first round of oral submissions on January 19 that genocide is among the most serious accusations that can be made against a state, and therefore only “appropriate” or restrained measures should be applied.
Myanmar’s side reportedly rejected Gambia’s submitted documents and quotations as insufficiently substantiated, arguing that they rely heavily on information collected from camps in Bangladesh—especially reports by the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) and other organizations and news articles.
They also reportedly criticized what they described as attempts to treat Gambia’s referenced materials as if they were already finally adjudicated (res judicata), and said Gambia did not respond in detail to Myanmar’s counterpoints.
Myanmar’s lawyers again claimed that the events in northern Rakhine were “clearance operations” and counter-terrorism measures in response to ARSA attacks.
Regarding the allegation that using the term “Bengali” instead of “Rohingya” shows genocidal intent, Myanmar’s lawyers reportedly argued at the January 19 hearing that the Rohingya name was not used based on historical considerations, not because of an intent to destroy.
They also reportedly rebutted village-burning allegations village by village, claiming some fires were caused by ARSA, and argued that some death toll claims could not be verified and did not demonstrate the meaning of genocide.
They further presented ARSA attacks on border police posts, landmine incidents, and sexual violence allegations, and argued that some accusations were based only on weak, anonymous testimony.
They also reportedly rejected the claim that the 1982 Citizenship Law was enacted to make Muslims stateless and to enable genocide, arguing that citizenship law concerns sovereign matters; that tiered citizenship exists in other countries; that the 1982 law predates the 2016–2017 events by many years; and that the law’s purpose was to regulate illegal entry from neighboring countries.
These news items were contributed by Ko Thit, Lu Lay, and Khar Shell.