Military News Updates – December 17, 2024 Morning
๐ฉ๐ฉ 1. Young people forcibly recruited as soldiers and sent to the frontlines are being given stimulant drugs to incite them into battle, says Dr. Soe Thu Yar Zaw
Dr. Soe Thu Yar Zaw, a member of the Mandalay PDF Central Command, revealed that young men and women forcibly conscripted as soldiers and sent to the frontlines are being made to consume stimulant drugs, such as yaba (methamphetamine) tablets and "Bom Balaor," to push them into battle.
He stated:
"After this transitional period, Myanmar will need significant rebuilding in various sectors. Since the military coup, every aspect of our country has deteriorated to the point of devastation. Among the areas requiring immediate attention is the rampant spread of narcotics. From cheap, readily available drugs like yaba to high-end substances like E, K, and 'Happy Water,' the widespread availability of narcotics is deeply alarming. The enemy is deliberately exploiting this situation to their advantage. Young people forcibly conscripted into the army are being drugged with substances like yaba to provoke aggression, and they are even supplied with stimulant-laced explosives such as Bom Balaor to compel them into battle."
He added that resistance forces have often found narcotics in military outposts seized during the revolution.
"As clashes intensify and the battle zones expand, the junta is increasingly using drugs to control their lower-ranking soldiers. It's becoming a regular occurrence. Drugged soldiers, completely detached from reality, charge forward fearlessly, oblivious to the bullets flying around them," said Dr. Soe Thu Yar Zaw.
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๐ฉ๐ฉ 2. Military junta showcases two surveillance aircraft and emphasizes increased airpower usage, says Min Aung Hlaing
The junta’s air force unveiled two surveillance aircraft, the MTX-1A and MTX-1B, which they claim were locally designed and manufactured. The unveiling ceremony took place on December 15, with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing attending the event.
During the ceremony, Min Aung Hlaing emphasized the need for intensified use of airpower in ongoing conflicts. The MTX-1A was first successfully test-flown on March 25, 2021, while the MTX-1B was test-flown in March 2024. The two aircraft were officially introduced for operational use at the ceremony.
Since the military coup, intensified battles in states like Kayah (Karenni), Rakhine, Kachin, and Karen have resulted in the junta losing numerous helicopters and aircraft to resistance forces. On December 7, during another military event, the junta announced that it had replaced a total of eight aircraft, including helicopters and fighter jets, that were destroyed in combat.
In recent conflicts, due to the high costs associated with fighter jets, the junta has increasingly relied on transport aircraft to carry out bombing raids, marking a shift in their tactics.
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๐ฉ๐ฉ 3. Five civilians executed and over 60 arrested by junta troops in Paukk Township; two homes set on fire
At around 4:30 a.m. on December 15, junta forces and Pyu Saw Htee militia raided Spar Myo Village in Paukk Township. They arrested around 70 villagers, burned down two houses, and detained over 60 people, according to local reports.
On December 16, the junta forces executed five of the detained villagers near Pyu Saw Htee Village and abandoned their bodies. The victims were identified as U Thein Win, Ko Maung Nyein, Ko Phyo Kyaw, Ko Nay Toe, and Hlaing Htet, all residents of Spar Myo Village.
Currently, it is reported that the junta forces are detaining approximately 65 villagers from the raid in various Pyu Saw Htee-controlled villages in the area.
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๐ฉ๐ฉ 4. Three civilians injured by artillery shelling in Saw Htee Township by junta forces
The Karen National Union (KNU) has reported that three civilians were injured due to artillery shelling by junta forces in Saw Htee Township, Kawthoolei Administrative Region, within Hpa-an District of Karen State.
On December 10, junta troops from Battalion 57 stationed in Ingani Village fired two 60mm mortar shells at Yon Taing Village. One of the shells injured Daw The, a 67-year-old resident.
Similarly, on December 12, the same battalion fired a 60mm mortar shell at San Phae Village, injuring U Khin Win (42) and Ma San Mu (45).
Additionally, on December 11, troops from Battalion 264 stationed at Pine Zalote fired one 120mm mortar shell at Chone Inn Village and another at Gwe Kone Village. Reports indicate that there were further injuries and property damage caused by the shelling.
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๐ฉ๐ฉ 5. Tatmadaw Major and Informant Captured in Taungoo During Temporary Duty
According to the Fire Dragon People’s Defense Force (PDF), a Major from the military junta and a male informant were apprehended in a location along the Nyaunglebin-Madauk Road in Nyaunglebin Township.
The capture took place on the morning of December 9 during a routine checkpoint inspection. The individuals were traveling in a civilian vehicle when they were intercepted. The detained officer, described as a three-star junta official, was reportedly on temporary duty, heading to the Taungoo military headquarters. This marks the first capture of such a high-ranking junta officer by the group.
The detainees have been identified as Major Nyi Nyi Aung, 29 years old, from the 57th Light Infantry Battalion stationed in Shwegyin, and his informant, a 21-year-old man named Pyay Phyo Aung (also known as Chit Sayar), a resident of Shan Village in Shwegyin Township.
It was revealed that the two were involved in activities such as extorting civilians, forcibly recruiting youths for military service, and gathering intelligence to arrest individuals associated with resistance groups. They reportedly admitted to these actions during questioning.
On December 10, the detainees were transferred to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 3, Battalion 7. The KNLA will proceed with further actions against them.
The Fire Dragon PDF also stated that they have captured up to six junta soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee militia members, all of whom have been handed over to the Karen National Union (KNU).
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๐ฉ๐ฉ 6. Attack on Military Battalion 532 Near Hlaing Tharyar Old Bridge Injures Two Soldiers
The Yangon Region People’s Defense Force (Yangon PDF) reported an attack on the junta’s 532nd Battalion near the old Hlaing Tharyar Bridge in Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region.
The assault took place around 8:30 PM on December 15, involving three high-powered explosives. Two junta soldiers were reportedly injured in the attack.
Following the incident, junta forces sealed off the Hlaing Tharyar bridges and conducted inspections in the area, according to reports.
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๐ฉ๐ฉ 7. Drone Bomb Attack on Junta Troops Stationed in a Village Injures Two Soldiers
The Tanintharyi Region People’s Defense Force (PDF Zone 5) reported that a junta military unit stationed at a house in Nyaung Pin Kone Village, Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region, was attacked by drone bombs, leaving two soldiers injured.
The attack occurred around 2 PM on December 15 while approximately ten junta soldiers were gathered at the house. Drone operatives from the Tanintharyi PDF Zone 5 launched the bomb attack.
The two injured soldiers sustained severe injuries and were transported to Battalion 556 based in Zawwe Village.
It has been noted that the junta column, comprising around 60 personnel, has been operating covertly in the vicinity of Nyaung Pin Kone Village for about two weeks.
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๐ฉ๐ฉ 8. Police Officer from Yangon Police Battalion 5 Defects to Resistance with Arms
A police officer from Yangon’s Police Battalion 5 in Hmawbi defected to the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Taungtha Township with weapons, according to a statement from the Taungtha PDF.
The officer reportedly fled the oppressive military regime on December 16, bringing along an assault rifle (G-3) and 221 rounds of ammunition. He sought refuge with the civilian resistance.
The defected officer was awarded a reward of 500,000 Kyats for his actions.
The Taungtha PDF encouraged other soldiers and police officers serving under the fascist military regime to defect quickly and seek refuge with the resistance, leaving behind their role in oppressing and destroying the country and its people.
These military updates were provided by Radio NUG correspondents Min Thi Han, Min Sit Thway, and Kharshell.
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