According to statements from People’s Defense Forces (PDF), 43 members of the military council forces were killed in battles across Myanmar on March 1. The casualties occurred during operations conducted by resistance forces in various states and regions across the country. The People’s Defense Forces have been carrying out counter-attacks in response to the military council’s ongoing violence against civilians.
The military council forces have been conducting forced military recruitment, torture, looting of civilian properties, and burning of villages, which has prompted the People’s Defense Forces to engage in combat operations to protect civilians. However, due to restrictions on independent reporting and access to conflict areas, the actual number of military casualties cannot be independently verified on the ground.
The People’s Defense Forces have declared their commitment to continue their operations to stop the military council’s brutal actions and protect the lives and properties of civilians. The violence perpetrated by military council forces has caused widespread displacement of civilians who are in need of humanitarian assistance. The resistance forces maintain their stance of defending the people against the military council’s oppression while acknowledging the limitations in verifying casualty figures due to restricted access to conflict zones.
