A spokesperson from the Upper Minbu Township People’s Defense Force reported that more than 10 military soldiers were killed during clashes that occurred when resistance forces confronted military column operations during the Thingyan period in Upper Minbu Township, Magway Region. On April 12, approximately 80 soldiers from defense equipment manufacturing factories in Upper Minbu Township conducted military column operations with 4 military vehicles along the Pathein-Monywa main road through Padan-Kanhtut-Shan Military Zone. When revolutionary joint forces engaged the military column around 3 PM on April 14, the resulting firefight left more than 10 military soldiers dead and over 30 seriously wounded.
According to the Upper Minbu Township People’s Defense Force official, the military column raided villages in the Minbu and Myinton areas, looting civilian property including valuable gold and silver items and clothing. Villages near the Pathein-Monywa road in Minbu Township, including Chan Kone village and Auk Kine village, were particularly affected by the military’s theft of civilian property. The official detailed how the military forces systematically plundered these communities during their operations.
Additionally, resistance forces conducted warning attacks against the Shan Taik Gyi police station in Upper Minbu Township, which has been collaborating with military columns and participating in acts of violence. These attacks were jointly carried out by the People’s Defense Force (Upper Minbu), Arakan Chin Defense Force (ACDF), and the People’s Independence Organization/People’s Independence Army (PIO/PIA). The resistance forces were able to withdraw safely without casualties after conducting these operations. The military’s continued use of extensive resources for military operations, including heavy weapons, aircraft, and ground forces, stands in stark contrast to their claimed inability to provide humanitarian assistance, demonstrating their prioritization of military operations over civilian welfare.
