Resistance forces in Sagaing attacked a Myanmar junta convoy killing 20 soldiers, including new recruits, and capturing 49 alive, reports the No. 1 Military Region of the Ministry of Defense under the National Unity Government (NUG) on 14 April.
The attack happened at about 2 pm near Kamphyu village in Ayadaw Township in the Sagaing region.
On 12 April, a convoy comprising of five twelve-wheel vehicles, a military vehicle, 250 new recruits, and junta soldiers from the Military Council’s Supply and Transport company (929) of the Northwest Military Command in Monywa Town were en route to the No. (10) training Depot in Ayadaw Township through Monywa.
During the assault by local People’s Defence Forces (PDF), three twelve-wheel vehicles belonging to the Military Council were damaged, resulting in approximately 20 recruits, including a captain, being killed and 15 injured and No. 1 Military Region confirmed the capture of 49 individuals. “Avoiding harm to civilians, some of whom ran in front of us during the attack, was a priority. The remaining soldiers fled in the remaining vehicles,” said a member of the PDF involved in the operation.
The No. 1 Military Region reported the seizure of seven small arms and 5,500 assorted ammunition, including 80 types of bombs, 10 RPG-7 rockets, and other military equipment.
The attack was carried out by various groups including Monywa District Battalion 6, 19, and 24, Monywa District Commando Force, Monywa District Armed Force, Ayadaw Township PDF, Ayadaw local resistance force, Meikhtila District Battalion-2, Danger Force LPDF, Black Panther LPDF, and the Special Revolution Force LPDF.
The attack came at a time when the Myanmar junta is stepping up its mandatory military conscription programme, originally announced on 10 February. Originally, the junta claimed the conscription would begin after the Thingyan water festival period.
But even before this announcement, on 29 March, recruits who had been enlisted were observed being sent for military training, as reported by family members of the victims. The junta has yet to disclose the precise number of trainees participating in training.
Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Southern Shan State: PNLA
Besides, Irrawaddy reports More than 10 Myanmar junta soldiers were killed on Tuesday in fighting with the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) near Hsihseng town in Pa-O autonomous region, southern Shan State, according to PNLA spokesman Khun Rain Yam.
Clashes between the PNLA, the armed wing of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, and the junta have escalated since April 13 when the regime attempted to seize Hsihseng.
The junta and its Pa-O National Army (PNA) allies sent reinforcements to Hsihseng during the Thingyan festival and clashes continued until Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the PNLA seized a truck from a five-vehicle convoy and took three junta weapons. The four other vehicles were destroyed by the soldiers before they left but the PNLA seized the remaining truck, Khun Rain Yam said.
“We saw 10 dead soldiers and occupied a military vehicle,” he said.
Approximately 13 junta troops, including Major Aung Kyaw Tun, Captain Wai Lin Maung and Sergeant Aung Myo Tun from Artillery Battalion 507 and Infantry Battalion 509 were reportedly killed on Monday.
More Hsihseng civilians were displaced this week, according to the Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO).
Hsihseng residents were forced to return home by PNA troops last week and threatened with fines if they refused, the group said.s
But Pong lon, Naung Eain, Hte Phue, Mae Paung, Naung San, Kaung Waing, and Ping Ngu villagers have fled their homes during this week’s clashes.
“Before this week’s fighting, the regime was shelling civilians and attacking with drones almost every day,” a PYO representative said.
Fighting in the Pa-O region broke out in Sam Hpu village, Hopong Township, on January 21.
The PYO reported last week that 61 civilians had been killed, 78 injured, 596 buildings destroyed and more than 70,300 civilians displaced by the junta in Hsihseng, Nyaung Shwe, Hopong and Pinlaung townships.
The regime has launched over 462 airstrikes and fired nearly 3,000 shells in the Pa-O region, it said.