At least 15 junta soldiers were killed when people’s defence forces (PDFs) attacked a junta convoy in Tanintharyi’s Dawei Township started at 4:45 p.m. on 14 October.

According to the PDFs involved in the attack the convoy, which was hit between the villages of Thingan Tone and Wa Kone on the Dawei to Metta Road, was carrying supplies of food and weapons.

A PDF soldier said: “The fighting lasted two days, it started on 14 October and continued to 15 October. It resulted in the deaths of about 15 Military Council [junta] soldiers and many junta soldiers were injured.”

At noon, on 15 October, the PDFs retreated because the junta troops started randomly firing in their direction with heavy artillery.

According to locals, at 4:00 p.m. on 15 October junta troops arrested residents from three villages near to where the fighting was. The soldiers also entered homes and took valuable items. The arrested people were later released.

A local said: “Villagers from near the battle area were arrested and taken as hostages on 15 October at around 4:00 p.m. The junta soldiers then stole all of the valuable things in the village, before releasing the hostages and leaving the village.”

The defence forces involved in the attack included Kaw ThooLei Army company (3), Dawei East Forest (DEF-PDF), the Than Ma Ni Guerrilla Force, The Dawei Guerilla Revolutionary Force (DGRF), The Dawei District Army -T1 and Black Leopard Force