Attacks by DSTA as Tatmadaw continues launching offensives on AA, Northern Alliance announce

16 Aug 2019

Phadu Tun Aung and Khaing Roe La | DMG
16 August, Sittwe
 
Members of the Northern Alliance: the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army launched simultaneous attacks in five locations including the Defence Services Technological Academy in Pyin Oo Lwin on the morning of 15 August.
 
The three groups that form the Northern Alliance said in its statement that they issued written warnings many times to stop the Tatmadaw’s offensive operations on the AA, but the Tatmadaw continued launching major offensives.
 
Moreover, the Tatmadaw’s offensive operation has reached the three Northern Alliance forces’ territories and kept conducting its infamous “Four Cuts” strategy that limits the opposition’s movements so the opposition have to resort to launching counter offensives, the three ethnic armed groups announced.
 
The troops of the Northern Alliance attacked three targets in Naung Cho, northern Shan State and two locations in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region. They are a toll gate on Union Road at the entrance of Naung Cho town, a narcotics checkpoint near Gokteik viaduct, a police station, a toll gate at Pyin Oo Lwin’s Myo Shaung Road and the DSTA compound.
 
A civilian from the DSTA was killed and a military officer has received injuries, some military media reported.

During the attacks by the Northern Alliance, 15 people including civilians, military and police personnel were killed, and at least 10 others injured according to the Irrawaddy news report.
 
TNLA spokesperson Major Mong Aike Kyaw claimed responsibility for the attack.
 
“Hostility intensifies in our territories when the Tatmadaw keeps on launching offensive operations. It was clearly necessary to launch some sort of counter attack,” Mong Aike Kyaw said.
 
The AA said that the attack was a necessary counter attack because the Tatmadaw conducts offensives operations in their allies’ territories by force.
     
“These acts clearly show that there is strong sense of solidarity among the northern ethnic groups to repel government forces that brazenly enter our territories to conduct operations. Our only option is to rely on counter measures to deter the Tatmadaw,” said the AA’s spokesperson Khiang Thukha.
 
As of today, the death toll from Northern Alliance attack has reached 15 including 9 military personnel, 3 policemen, 3 civilians.
 
The Northern Alliance forces launched 107 mm rockets at the DSTA and fired RPGs at the Asia World toll gate and narcotics checkpoint and launched simultaneous attack at the Goktwin police outpost, Naung Cho toll gate and a military battalion, the Office of Commander-in-Chief announced.

The three members of the Northern Alliance voiced their opinions on 12 August to immediately stop all offensive attacks in northern Myanmar and Arakan State and warned the Tatmadaw to suffer the consequences of its action.

The Tatmadaw said that “ethnic forces committed violent attacks to disrupt the rule of law” for two reasons; they are dissatisfied with the Tatmadaw’s seizure of drugs in Kutkai and Rathedaung Township and the AA has faced lots of casualties and loses among their ranks. Wish to find out more details about phone slots? Open https://exycasinos.ca/ to check the most played mobile slots in Canada. Experienced casino specialists have talked about software providers, return to players, and other aspects.

The Tatmadaw seized drugs worth over MMK 16 billion and equipment producing methamphetamines in Kutkai Township on 25 July and drugs worth about MMK 5 billion and ammunitions in Yet Khone Daing village in Rathedaung Township on 8 August.