From 1 July 2021 to 20 March 2022, there were about 800 armed clashes in different parts of Myanmar, and there were more than 2,000 battles in Ethnic Armed Organization (EAO) controlled areas, totalling 2,800 armed clashes.
The Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar) said that in EAO controlled areas, EAOs and People's Defence Forces (PDF) clashed with junta troops about 2,193 times. These clashes occurred in EAO controlled areas in Kachin, Kayah (Karenni), Kayin (Karen) and Chin states. Out of these clashes, more than 1,775 encounters occurred in KNU controlled areas.
On 21 March, the junta’s Maw Khee base in Maw Khee Village, Waw Lay Township, Myawaddy District in Kayin State, was occupied by KNU coalition forces. The mission was jointly overseen by the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and PDF forces together and until 23 March, three junta soldiers were killed and six were arrested. A large number of artillery and small arms were also seized. The ranks of the killed and arrested junta troops have not been confirmed.
Moreover, since the military junta used jet fighters in KNU 6th Brigade area on 25 March, locals from three villages have been displaced. Htee Kho, a junta troops-controlled hill base, was under attack by KNU allied forces, and that is why the junta used air support. The attack prompted local people from Phote Pa La Hta, Htee Kho and Kanal Lay villages to evacuate quickly without being able to take any belongings, a PDF soldier said.
On 19 March, the military junta troops dropped four bombs on Kwee Lar and Takat Pu villages in the area controlled by KNU 3rd Brigade 3, and that caused tension in the area. It happened after the KNU issued a letter addressed to the military junta’s south-eastern military command, demanding the withdrawal of the junta’s forces from the area controlled by the KNU 6th Brigade since there were incidents of more fighting.
In Chin State, PDF-Zoland and Civic Defense Militia (CDM-Siyin) joint forces attacked the junta troops garrisoned in Tonzang high school compound on 23 March. About 20 police and soldiers were stationed there and the groups claimed several junta troops may have been killed. The PDF forces said they retreated successfully without any losses. This is the first attack in Tonzang.
Meanwhile, the armed clashes between the military junta forces and local defence forces (PDF/LDF/CDF/CNDF/KNDF) have become widespread in all states and regions. Within eight months from 1 July 2021 to 20 March 2022, there were no less than 768 armed clashes between junta troops and local defence forces, Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar’s findings show.
Most clashes happened in Sagaing Region with 293 incidents reported. However, these findings are based on legitimate data issued by news agencies and independent organizations and thus, the numbers could be higher in reality, ISP-Myanmar said.
PDF (Kalay) warned civilians to take more precautions in their daily lives because more clashes are about to happen in southern parts of Kalay in Sagaing Region. The military junta has been advancing towards southern Kalay and terrorizing locals repeatedly, the statement said.
On 17 March, junta troops set about 100 houses on fire in Nat Chaung village in the southern part of Kalay. About 70 junta troops stationed in Yan Gyi Aung village advanced through Than Pho, Khway Kyat, He Loat, Aung Chan Thar and Nga Phar villages towards Nat Myaung Village and the fighting with local defence forces started on 8 March. From that day until 23 March, armed clashes have happened and tensions are high, the PDF (Kalay) statement said.
In Shan state as well, from 1 July 2021 to 28 February 2022, Northern Alliance forces and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) fought some battles and until now, tensions are still high in Lawksawk and Panglong townships in southern Shan state, ISP-Myanmar said.
