The 1027 operation of the Northern alliance has spread in  the central and upper Myanmar. Subsequently, there have been some cases of junta troops surrendering to resistance forces. Fighting also intensified in western Myanmar, Rakhine and central Myanmar, Mandalay. In these clashes junta troops were defeated most of the time. This week's round-up includes news about fighting in the different parts of the country.

 

The surrender of the infantry battalion

 

The seizure of junta outposts intensified in northern part of Myanmar. In the town of Laukkai in the Northern Shan State, troops under the Light Infantry Battalion 129 surrendered to Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Party (MNDAA), which a member of the Brotherhood Alliance. A total of 126 junta troops and 134 family members surrendered. The battalion was based in Yanghkum village located in Kokang Special Region 1. The Brotherhood Alliance has been providing health care services to sick people and awarded each of the junta troops who surrendered with 10 lakhs and each of their family members were given 1 lakh. They were transferred to safe places.

 

Wanted leader of online gambling in Kokang

 

The Chinese government announced on November 13 bounties for the four leaders of online gambling syndicate living in Kokang state. The Chinese government, which aimed to eradicate online gambling, set the bounties between 100,000 Yuans and 500,000 Yuans. The wanted people are Myanmar citizens residing in Kokant.  They paid some ethnic armed groups to protect them so they can continue with their illegal activities.

 

One of the wanted persons is Ming Xuecheng who is the member of Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the rest are his family members. Three days after Chinese government announced the bounty program, the Myanmar military detained three of them transferred them to the custody of the Chinese authorities. But some military media outlets stated that Ming Xuecheng committed suicide

 

Curfew in Laukkai and Konkyan

 

The military imposed curfew restricting the movement before 6 am and after 6 pm as the battle intensified in northern Shan state including Laukkai and Konkyan starting from 13th November.

 

The people that failed to follow the curfew will be arrested and punished. Moreover, they restricted the movement of more than 5 people, giving speech, marching and possessing easily inflammable objects in arms and hands.

 

The curfew law was being implemented in the eight townships in northern Shan state after the defeat of junta troops and seizure of military outposts under 1027 operation.

 

Battles in Rakhine state

 

The intensified battles started in Rakhine state. The Arakan Army (AA) attacked junta outposts in Minbya and Rathedaung on 13th November and seized the police station in Pauktaw township near the capital Sittwe on 15th November.

 

The military has been carrying out air strikes and naval attacks and the residents fled to other places but some residents were trapped in the city.

 

The attacks erupted after a year-long ceasefire that started in November 2022. Around 20 people were killed in military shelling from 13th to 17th November .

 

Myanmar junta representative not allowed to attend meeting

 

Last year, the ASEAN Defence Minister's Meeting was attended by general Mya Tun Oo but they were not allowed to attend the annual meeting this year. The meeting was held in Indonesia, Jakarta on 15th November and it was attended by the nine other member states. East Timor representative attended as an observer. The defence ministers highlighted the implementation of 5-point consensus to solve the political situation in Myanmar.

A few days before the meeting, around 80 revolutionary forces sent the opened letter to Indonesian defence minister about the removal of junta representatives from the meeting and other two points.

 

Signboard and party flag were removed at State Counselor's house

 

The NLD party flags and signboard at 54 university avenue in Bahan township were removed by junta troops on 12th November without any notice. Some party members said the junta troops were planning to remove the party signboards and flags after announcing the abolition of NLD party.

 

Rumors related to banks

 

Some rumours were emerged on 15th November that the private banks in areas where clashes intensified provided advance payment to cover next two months to their staff.

 

Subsequently, the news triggered panic and a people rushed to the bank to withdraw money but could not withdraw because of insufficiency of cash. But the military operated central bank said  in government newspapers on 17th November that the banking system is operating normally.

 

After the news about a bank run, the foreign exchange rate increased over 200 kyats and many people are trying to withdraw their money from the banks. The junta warned they will take actions to the people who spread rumours.