According to statements and reports from People’s Defense Forces, 13 members of the military council forces were killed in various engagements across Myanmar on March 20. These casualties resulted from clashes between local resistance forces and military council troops, as People’s Defense Forces continue to defend civilians against the military council’s oppressive actions. The fighting occurred as resistance forces responded to the military council’s ongoing violence against local populations.
The military council forces have been engaging in forced conscription of civilians, using people as human shields in military operations, burning villages, and carrying out arbitrary arrests and killings of innocent civilians. These actions have prompted People’s Defense Forces to launch defensive operations against military council troops. However, it should be noted that independent journalists and human rights monitors have not been able to verify these reported casualties on the ground due to access restrictions and security concerns.
According to statements from People’s Defense Forces, the military council continues to commit acts of violence against local populations, resulting in civilian casualties and loss of property. The resistance forces have indicated they will continue their operations to protect civilians from the military council’s brutal actions. The violence perpetrated by military council forces has caused widespread displacement of civilians, who are facing shortages of food supplies and medical resources. The People’s Defense Forces emphasized their commitment to defending local communities while highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the military council’s operations.
