Hello. From now on, we will be presenting m.CDM’s domestic news updates.
The main stories we will present today are:
- The United Nations urges the immediate release of all those unlawfully detained, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
- Eight regional CDM councils issue a joint statement reaffirming their loyalty to President U Win Myint and welcoming his release.
- Five fighters from the Yangon battalion were killed in the Shwegyin battle.
- KIA allied forces seized two Wara Zup militia bases in Tanai Township, while fighting has intensified in the Myawaddy–Hpa Lu area, along with other related news.
Now, first: - NUG says it welcomes President U Win Myint’s reunion with his family and will continue fighting until the goals of the Spring Revolution are achieved
m.CDM, April 18, 2026
The National Unity Government (NUG) has issued a statement saying it is pleased that some political prisoners, including President U Win Myint, who had been unjustly detained, have been reunited with their families, and that it will continue the struggle through to the very end until the goals of the Spring Revolution are achieved.
The NUG said that the President, who was freely and fairly elected by the people, was able to reunite with his family because of revolutionary pressure from both inside and outside the country, and that it firmly believes this is part of the people’s revolutionary victory.
In addition, the NUG, ethnic revolutionary organizations, and the public reiterated that, just as they continue to recognize the results of the 2020 election, they continue to recognize U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the duly elected President and State Counsellor.
It also stated that the ultimate goal of the Spring Revolution is not only the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including the State Counsellor, but also the complete liberation of the people from the vicious cycle of oppression under military dictatorship.
The NUG said it will continue to firmly uphold the six common positions announced together with Kachin, Karenni, Karen, and Chin allies on January 31, 2024, as well as the statement of the Steering Council for the Emergence of the Federal Democratic Union (SCEF) formed on March 30, 2026.
Those six common positions include: ending the military’s role in politics; placing all armed forces under civilian government control; abolishing the 2008 Constitution entirely; drafting a new federal democratic constitution; building a new Union; and carrying out processes to ensure justice.
The NUG also declared that building a federal democracy can only be considered successful if transitional justice is delivered for the war crimes and violations of humanitarian law committed by the terrorist military group, and pledged to continue marching forward and fighting without pause until that goal is achieved.
⸻ - United Nations urges the immediate release of all unlawfully detained persons, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
m.CDM, April 18
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the immediate release of all those unlawfully detained by the terrorist military group, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
This was conveyed by the Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during the UN daily press briefing on April 17.
Although President U Win Myint has been released in Myanmar, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not included, prompting the UN to make this appeal.
The UN said it had taken note of the amnesty measures, including the release of President U Win Myint, the reduction of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence, and the commutation of death sentences to life imprisonment, but stressed that more meaningful political steps are still needed.
Likewise, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he was relieved that some unlawfully detained persons, including President U Win Myint, had been released and that death-row prisoners had received reduced sentences, but emphasized that the remaining political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, must be released immediately and unconditionally.
Stéphane Dujarric also said that any practical political solution must be based on a genuine commitment to immediately halt violence and hold inclusive dialogue. He added that an environment must be created in which the people of Myanmar can freely exercise their political rights.
The UN pointed out that simply releasing prisoners is not enough for credible political processes to emerge in Myanmar, and that broader progress is still needed.
It also urged UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop to continue meeting all stakeholders in Myanmar so that regional ASEAN countries and other partners can help, in line with discussions and appeals made at the UN Security Council for the people of Myanmar.
⸻ - Daw Zin Mar Aung urges the IPU conference to reject the military junta and its sham parliament; continues meetings with international delegates
m.CDM, April 18, 2026
At the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) being held in Istanbul, Turkey, Myanmar parliamentary delegation leader Daw Zin Mar Aung urged the international community to reject the terrorist military and its fake parliament.
Speaking during the General Debate on April 18 (the fourth day of the conference), Daw Zin Mar Aung highlighted the situation of the Myanmar people suffering under the terrorist military’s oppression and called for the firm rejection of the junta’s and its proxy parliament’s attempts to gain legitimacy.
She also urged continued recognition of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and called for cooperation to end the violence being committed by the military against civilians.
Myanmar’s delegation has been attending the conference since April 15, and over the previous three days participated in meetings of the Asia-Pacific Group, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, and the 217th Governing Council.
They also held separate meetings with parliamentary delegations from Poland, Sweden, Indonesia, Denmark, Australia, and Canada, and on April 18 also met delegates from the United Kingdom and Bhutan.
During those meetings, the Myanmar delegation broadly presented information on the continued airstrikes committed by the military in civilian disguise, the relocation and operation of online scam businesses protected by the military and its allies, and human rights violations against parliamentarians.
They also explained the political aims of the Steering Council for the Emergence of the Federal Democratic Union (SCEF), which was formed by revolutionary forces, and called for increased humanitarian aid for the people of Myanmar as well as technical, financial, and political support for the revolutionary forces.
⸻ - Eight regional CDM councils issue joint statement reaffirming loyalty to President U Win Myint and welcoming his release
m.CDM, April 18, 2026
Eight regional Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) civil servant councils issued a joint message on April 18, expressing joy that unlawfully detained President U Win Myint has been released and reunited with his family, and reaffirming that they remain loyal to him.
The statement said that U Win Myint is the legitimate President democratically entrusted by the people through the 2020 general election, and that they firmly accept this, noting that the international community continues to recognize him to this day.
The councils said that the President’s release, after enduring health and personal security hardships in prisons and detention centers over recent years, was the result of his strong resolve and the solid support of the people.
They therefore said that this release is not something for which thanks should be given to the junta that unlawfully arrested him, but rather merely a correction of an act that should never have happened in the first place.
They also stressed that the immediate release and reunion with family of all political prisoners still unjustly detained, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, is the inalienable desire of the whole public and something they too continue to hope for.
The joint message was issued by:
the Kachin State CDM Civil Servants Council (KSCCSC),
the Karenni State Civil Servants Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Movement Council (KSCSC-CDM),
the Sagaing Federal Unit CDM Civil Servants Council (CCSC-SFU),
the Bago Region CDM Civil Servants Council (BRCC),
the Mandalay Region Civil Disobedience Movement Organization (MCDMO),
the Mon State CDM Civil Servants Council (CCSC-MON),
the Yangon Federal Unit CDM Civil Servants Organization (YFCCO),
and the Shan State CDM Council (Interim).
⸻ - Five fighters from the Yangon battalion killed in the Shwegyin battle
m.CDM, April 18
A battalion in Bago Region’s Shwegyin Township announced on April 18 that five fighters serving under Yangon Regional Military Command, Battalion Yangon 5102, were killed in battle there.
Those killed on April 12 were identified as:
Comrade Wai Lu, serving in an assault role in Company 1;
Comrade Phoe Thar, serving in the battalion logistics department;
and Comrade Apho Gyi, Comrade Tar Tay Gyi, and Comrade San Gyi, all serving in assault roles in Company 2.
They were killed while fighting continued after revolutionary allied forces had seized the military’s Letyet camp in Shwegyin Township.
Battalion Yangon 5102 said the five fallen fighters are honored as heroic martyrs who nobly gave their lives while faithfully carrying out their duties in the national liberation struggle to overthrow military dictatorship and establish a federal union that guarantees self-determination.
A memorial alms offering for the fallen fighters was held on April 16, led by the commander of Battalion Yangon 5102, and attended by battalion members, local residents, and fighters from other revolutionary battalions.
The battle to seize Letyet camp was jointly carried out by battalions under the command of the People’s Defense Force Yangon Regional Military Command, battalions under Special Regional Military Strategy 36, the Special Operations Force (SOF), the Yangon Regional Pa Ka Pha combat column, the Bago District Pa Ka Pha combat column, the SOG drone unit, and KNLA Battalion 7, Company 1.
⸻ - KIA allied forces seize two Wara Zup militia bases in Tanai Township; clashes intensify in Myawaddy and Hpa Lu areas
m.CDM, April 18, 2026
It has been reported that KIA allied forces captured two Wara Zup militia bases led by Min Zay Thant, a subordinate of the terrorist military, in the Hukawng area of Tanai Township, Kachin State.
On the morning of April 18, KIA Battalion 14 and Battalion 20, operating under KIA Brigade 2, launched simultaneous assaults on three Wara Zup militia bases. Of these, two bases—Oi Law and Hka Lawng Kawng—were reportedly captured.
It was said that the KIA launched the counteroffensive while Wara Zup militia members had gone to reinforce the Hpakant front, and that the fighting was intense, with area-clearing operations still continuing.
The extent of casualties and weapons seized from junta troops and militia forces has not yet been independently confirmed.
Similarly, in Karen State, intense fighting reportedly broke out from the morning of April 18 between junta forces advancing into the Hpa Lu area south of Myawaddy and joint KNU forces.
Because junta forces reportedly suffered heavy casualties in the clashes, they carried out four aerial bombing raids on Hpa Lu village and Min Let Pan village, causing some homes to catch fire and be destroyed.
During the recent Thingyan period, the military had also bombed Min Let Pan village, destroying many homes by fire, and Hpa Lu village is now said to be almost entirely devastated due to repeated airstrikes and shelling.
⸻ - Twenty-one Magway-based local PDF groups jointly announce they welcome the Magway Federal Unit Government and will obey its orders
m.CDM, April 18, 2026
Twenty-one locally based People’s Defense Force (Local PDF) groups active in Magway Region jointly issued a statement on April 18, proudly welcoming the Magway Federal Unit Government that emerged from the 11th session of the Magway Parliament, and pledging to continue fighting under its command with obedience.
The statement said that since the military coup, those Local PDF groups have fought on resiliently up to the present time relying solely on public support and with whatever weapons they could obtain, including traditional Tumi firearms and single-shot weapons.
It said that after five years of the Spring Revolution, local federal unit governments had now been formed in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magway Regions under the federal principle that “strengthening the states leads to strengthening the whole country.”
The groups solemnly pledged that they will continue fighting under the Magway Unit Government with discipline and obedience in order to break free from dictatorship and bring about a genuine new federal union.
They also expressed hope and confidence that the Magway Unit Government would quickly implement the transformation of their Local PDF units into standing forces under the government’s guidance, and called on other brother Local PDF groups in Magway Region to join hands and fight together under the unit government’s leadership.
⸻ - Military launched more than 100 air attacks on Ayadaw Township within five days
m.CDM, April 18
The Ayadaw Township People’s Defense Team (Pa Ka Pha) announced on April 18 that the terrorist military carried out more than 100 aerial attacks on Ayadaw Township, Sagaing Region, within five days.
The statement said that from April 13 to 17, during the Thingyan period, the military attacked the southeastern part of Ayadaw Township with both airstrikes and artillery shelling.
According to Ayadaw Pa Ka Pha, the terrorist military launched at least 110 attacks using suicide drones, paramotors, gyrocopters, jet fighters, Y-12 aircraft, and Mi-35 helicopters, while howitzer shelling occurred 15 times.
As of the morning of April 18, air support attacks were reportedly still ongoing, so full details were not yet known.
On April 17, Myanmar New Year’s Day, the military reportedly attacked a village in the northern part of Ayadaw Township, shelling a gathering place of civilians rather than a military target. Local reports indicate that some civilians may have been killed or injured in the aerial and artillery attacks.
Because of military movements near Ayadaw town, the Ayadaw Township People’s Defense Team had already issued an emergency warning on April 15, advising people not to use the Ayadaw–Ywathargyi road, the Ayadaw–Hti Saung road, and entry and exit routes to Ayadaw town.
Since Ayadaw Township hosts artillery units, military training bases, and a tank battalion, the People’s Defense Team urged residents to remain cautious and alert to the dangers of airstrikes and heavy weapons attacks.
⸻ - Two killed after an ambush on junta group arriving on three motorcycles in Setottara Township
m.CDM, April 18
The Setottara Township People’s Defense Team announced that two members of a junta group were killed after revolutionary forces ambushed a group arriving on three motorcycles in Setottara Township, Magway Region.
The clash took place at around 5:30 p.m. on April 16, and was announced in a statement dated April 17.
According to the statement, an armed junta group of six men traveling on three motorcycles from Kutaw village, where many Pyu Saw Htee members live, toward the Kyinmonechone gate camp, was ambushed near Fa Aing West village.
In the roughly 15-minute clash, two enemy personnel were killed and one was seriously wounded.
The attack was carried out by fighters from Unit 1 of the Setottara Township People’s Defense Team, and no revolutionary fighters were reported injured.
⸻ - Tanintharyi Regional Military Command arms Myeik District Battalion (3) for the second time
m.CDM, April 18, 2026
The Tanintharyi Regional Military Command, under the command of the Ministry of Defense of the National Unity Government (NUG), announced that it had armed People’s Defense Force, Myeik District Battalion (3) for the second time.
At the handover ceremony, the commander of the Tanintharyi Regional Military Command, Comrade Star, delivered opening remarks, saying he was proud of the battalion forces that had remained resilient through challenges during more than five years of revolution.
He also said that PDF forces remain firmly under the command of the NUG, will never be shaken by the enemy’s attempts to sow division, and will continue steadfastly until victory, urging comrades to always remain ready.
The regional operations officer, Comrade C1, also urged PDF fighters to remember that they have survived up to now only because of the people’s support, and therefore must follow COC (code of conduct / military discipline), protect the public, and carry out training and operations in a coordinated manner.
After that, Strategy 33 Commander Comrade Saw Dar Ko and Strategy 35 Commander Comrade Kyaw Htin Aung also delivered remarks, and Myeik District Battalion (3) Commander Comrade El Gyi expressed thanks and received the weapons.
Myeik District Battalion (3) had previously operated as the Tanintharyi Township People’s Defense Team (Independent Guerrilla) before being reorganized as a PDF battalion, and after receiving formal recognition from the central military headquarters, it has now been armed for the second time.
⸻ - Two conscripts from Mone Infantry Battalion 351 and Yedashe Kwan Ohn village base defect with weapons; it is also claimed that the Min Kun area PLF military officer and 15 fighters joined the junta with arms and ammunition
m.CDM, April 17
The KNU Central Committee announced that in Mone Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District, Kawthoolei administrative area, Karen State, a conscript stationed at Seik Gyi monastery from Light Infantry Battalion 351 fled on April 5 and surrendered to KNLA Battalion 8 with weapons.
The soldier reportedly brought with him:
one MA-1 rifle,
five magazines,
105 rounds of ammunition,
two Energa grenades,
and one body armor vest.
The report stated that he had been forcibly conscripted against his will.
He was reportedly awarded 500,000 kyats by Mone Township authorities and is being well cared for.
Similarly, a junta soldier stationed at Kwan Ohn village in Yedashe Township, with personal identification number 155234, surrendered on April 9 to Battalion 3504 with weapons and ammunition.
He reportedly brought:
one MA-11 rifle,
242 rounds of ammunition,
three magazines,
and one additional device.
In addition, it was reported that in Sagaing Township, the deputy military officer of the People’s Liberation Army (PLF) and 15 fighters defected and joined Pyu Saw Htee leader monk Wei Pula with a large quantity of weapons and ammunition.
Those who joined reportedly included 13 men and 2 women, and they are said to have taken six firearms and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition with them.
A video released by Pyu Saw Htee leader Pauk Ko Taw identified the defectors as being from Letpan village, Min Kun Township.
It was reported that the PLF military officer defected amid social scandal and impending disciplinary action.
⸻
The news just presented was contributed by Ko Thit, Lu Lay, and Khar Shell.