The Foreign affairs minister's in-law became Laos ambassador

 

The military appointed as ambassador to Laos the Director-General of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Aung Ko who is also son-in-law of the minister of foreign affairs, U Than Swe.

 

U Aung Ko also served as interpreter under U Thein Sein government.

 

The former Laos ambassador, general Myat Thet Oo was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The regime didn't announce the crime of the former ambassador Myat Thet Oo.

 

The special envoy of the ASEAN chairman Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun visited Myanmar for the first time and met with the military commander-in-chief and seven NCA signatories.

 

 

Paletwa was seized by AA

 

After seizing the last bastion of the junta in Chin State; the Hnamadar and Khankataung outposts, the Arakan Army (AA) announced on 14 January that Paletwa becomes free from the control of junta troops.

 

Paletwa is a vital region for both military and economic activities of the junta.  It is adjacent to India border.

 

Paletwa is the second region in the country, which have been seized by the allied resistance forces after Laukkai Region in  Shan State. The operations in Paletwa started on 23rd November 2023 and the junta troops were totally defeated after 62 days.

 

Former chairman of New Mon State Party passed away

 

The former chairman of New Mon State Party, Nai Htaw Mon died at 78 in Sangkhla Buri Hospital in Thailand on 17th January.

 

He became fourth chairman of New Mon State Party( NMSP) in 2005. Later, he announced his retirement for health reasons during the 10th Anniversary of NMSP conference in 2020. During his term of office, the NMSP signed a NCA in 2018. He was awarded as Weya Hanthar honorary by international and domestic Mon associations in 2021.

 

Thai military officer visited Myanmar

 

The chairman of the Advisory Board of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Kittisak Boonprathamchai visited Myanmar and met with chief-in-commander General Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw.

 

During the meeting, they discussed fostering closer cooperation between the Thai and Myanmar armies in fighting terrorists at the Thai-Myanmar shared border.

 

The essential trade route from Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Road has been closed for two months amid fighting between resistance forces and junta troops.

 

On 12 January, chief-in-commander General Min Aung Hlaing and chief of Thailand's armed forces General Songwit Noonpackdee attended an online meeting to take actions against online gambling and telecoms fraud.

 

One military jet fighter shot down in Nam Hpat Kar

 

The Kachin Independence Army(KIA) claimed that they shot  down a Myanmar military jet fighter in Nam Hpat Kar, Kutkai in the northern Shan state on 16 January.

 

Domestic media outlets reported both the pilot and co-pilot were killed. Since the beginning of 2024, two military aircraft, an MI-17 and FTC-2000G were shot down by anti-junta resistance forces.

 

The FTC-2000G aircraft is a two-seater advanced trainer jet that was one the jet fighters the junta bought from China in 2022.

 

Within 3 years after the military takeover, a total of five military aircraft crashed in Momauk and Laiza in Kachin state, Hpruso and Bawlakhe in Karenni state and Nam Hpat Kar, Kutkai in northern Shan state.

 

Hopan and Panlong are handed to Wa

 

The TV channel of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Wa State TV channel announced on the 14th January that the Myanmar junta handed Hopan, Panlong to Wa State government and the handover ceremony took place on 04 January.

 

The Wa State TV channel reported that Myanmar junta agreed to hand Hopan and Panlong after many years.

 

The Myanmar junta has not disclosed anything related to Wa State TV report.

 

Burma Associated Press