February 17

 

This week top news in the country is about the junta implementing the People’s Military Service Law that requires students to serve the military from two to five years. The other major stories this week is about the NMSP withdrawing from the NCA and the offensive attacks in Sagaing.

 

Alarm bell for Myanmar youth

 

The People’s military service law that was written under U Than Shwe administration 14 years ago has bee implemented by chief-in-commander Min Aung Hlaing.

 

According to that law, all men between 18 to 35 years and all women between 18 and 27 have to undergo military training and serve the military from two to five years.

 

The junta established an 18-member committee that is going to recruit eligible youths starting from April.

 

Military spokesperson General Zaw Min Tun told BBC that, “each batch will contain around 5000 people.”

 

After the junta’s announcement, there were reports that young people were being detained in some places. The revolutionary forces are also calling on the youth to reach out to them and join the fight against the junta.

 

Reserve military forces law enforced

 

One day after enforcement of the conscription law, the SAC promulgated the reserve military forces law enforced by former chief-in-commander Thant Shwe.

 

According to this law, all uniformed servicemen and officer have to work in the reserve forces for five years after their resignation or retirement.

 

New visa restrictions law are announced

 

After the enforcement of the conscription law, the young people in Myanmar are very much concerned about their future and some of them have planned to go to neighboring countries to evade conscription.

 

Since more and more people are applying for visa, the Thailand Embassy in Yangon said on 14 February that it could only admit 400 applicants per day. Images of long queues of people waiting outside of Thailand embassy spread in social media.

 

There were unconfirmed stories that Myanmar people trying to enter Thailand illegally were tricked by brokers and if they are going to be arrested, they will be sent back to Myanmar, directly to the military center.

 

Four senior military commanders killed, arrested

 

During the past three months of fighting between junta troops and Arakan Army (AA) in Paletwa and Rakhine state, four military officers were killed, the AA said in a statement.

 

The commanding officers under Military Operations Commands brigade 9, deputy colonel Nyi Nyi Win and tactical operations commander Lt. general Zaw Min Tun were arrested alive and tactical operations commander of brigade 11, colonel Min Min Tun and commanding officer deputy colonel Banyar Paing Soe were killed.

 

The commanding officer of Brigade 9, colonel Zaw Min Tun (51 years) was arrested with his comrades in naval battle near Apautwa village, Maung Daw on 07 February.

 

Moreover, Paletwa based Military Operations Commands 19 Brigade, commanding officer of front line, colonel Zin Myo Swe remains missing.

 

The Military Operations Command Brigade 9 and its light infantry battalions were defeated by AA and hundreds of arms and artillery were seized.

 

Revolutionary forces seize Shadaw township in Karenni State

 

The Karenni National Defense Forces (KNDF) and allied forces finally seized Shadaw, a strategic outpost in Karenni State on 12 February.

 

During the fighting, over 160 military soldiers including colonels, were killed and different kinds of arms were seized by KNDF and allied forces.

 

Revolutionary forces also arrested members of the light infantry 428 , 249 , transport troops, engineering troops and police forces during the fighting.

 

During the month-long fighting in Shadaw, about 128 light arms, 18 heavy arms, 3 smoke guns, 1 jammer gun, communication devices, bullets and equipments were seized.

 

The strategic junta outposts in Shadaw were seized by Karenni Army , KNDF and Loikaw PDF and during a month-long offensive.

 

Factions within NMSP

 

"The general secretary of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) , Naing Zaya and deputy commander-in-chief, Brigadier general Salun Htaw split from the party and are going to ally with revolutionary forces, the two senior leaders said in statement on 14 February.

 

Several other party leaders, members, commanders, sergeants and nationalists have joined them.

 

The NMSP and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) signed the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on 18 February 2018 under NLD government. Among the eight NCA signatories, Karen National Union (KNU), Chin National Front (CNF) and All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) have been fighting the junta.

 

Another NCA signatory, the armed force of Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) , Pa-O National Liberation Army ( PNLA) also began fighting the junta since last month in Hsihseng township.

 

It can be assumed that due to the announcement from the two NMSP senior leaders, around half of the NCA signatories openly fight the junta.

 

Meanwhile Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), KNU/ KNLA-PC, Lahu Democratic Union ( LDU) and Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) remain committed to the NCA.

 

Kawlin was seized by junta troops

 

In November 2023, the allied forces under the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) seized control of Kawlin. But after three months of counter offensive the junta regained control of the township in February 2024.

 

Photo Credit -NMSP

 

Burma Associated Press