Though there was a decrease in the number of armed clashes in January in Tanintharyi Region compared to December, tensions between the junta forces and local resistance groups “showed no signs of abating”, according to the research group Southern Monitor.
Despite the slight decrease in the number of armed clashes between local resistance groups (People’s Defense Forces) and junta forces during January 2023, the current conflict trajectory suggests an increase in offensives by junta forces, including the use of heavy weaponry, according to Southern Monitor.
These offensives have occurred even in some areas of the region when there is no active conflict. Current conflict has led to displacement and an overall sense of insecurity in the region. The majority of clashes were reported in Palaw, Tanintharyi, Dawei, and Launglon Townships.
Southern Monitor also believes that preparation junta’s planned 2023 general election will likely further inflame the region’s conflict.
The State Administration Council (SAC)’’s efforts to collect census data prompted attacks and ambushes by the local PDFs in Tanintharyi Region. An alliance of local PDFs fired shots at the junta security forces which were assigned to guard the junta regimes ’census data collection team in Ka Myaw Kin Village in Launglon Township on 9 January 2023.
Several local PDFs also issued statements warning civil servants who are currently serving the regime and other civilians against involvement in data collection and any other procedures related to the upcoming elections.
On the other hand, junta forces have increasingly targeted the members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and its alleged supporters. This includes varying forms of atrocities such as arrests, torture, and burning down houses.
The current situation in most parts of Tanintharyi Region suggests that only a handful of urban settings in certain townships may be nominally secure enough to conduct polls in designated constituencies, during the upcoming junta-controlled general elections. As such, given the widespread locations of armed clashes and rise in displacement figures in the past , there is increasing uncertainty about whether voting can indeed take place in the region.
The incidence of civilian casualties has continued to rise in Tanintharyi Region.
Some casualties were due to the junta forces ’targeted killings against members of the local resistance groups and any civilians whom they suspected to be involved in, or supporting, the anti-coup movement.
The other were the results of targeted killings by the local resistance groups against military-appointed administrators and alleged members of the pro-regime militia, Pyu Saw Htee group.
A total of 25 civilians were killed and another eight civilians sustained injuries in Tanintharyi Region due to attacks in January. Some civilian casualties and injuries were the results of targeted killings allegedly committed by a joint force of junta soldiers and pro-regime militia, Pyu Saw Htee group.
In both urban and rural settings, the junta forces continued to enforce draconian laws and stringent regulations on a wide scale, making local populations even more vulnerable.
Enforcement of these regulations has led to more indiscriminate shootings, arrests, detention, confiscation of motorbikes, and fines of both small and large sums.
Local sources stated that they observed an increased presence of junta soldiers and police across major towns including Dawei, Myeik, and Kawthoung. As a result, civilians are at high risk of being fined by junta soldiers and traffic police, even when there is no apparent breach of laws and regulations.
During January in Myeik Town, there were accounts of young women motorbike riders being physically assaulted by police, after they were stopped and demanded to pay fines.
According to Southern Monitor, the junta forces have continued to respond heavy-handedly to the attacks launched by the local PDFs and their alliances in Tanintharyi Region, which mainly used tactics including remote violence and attacks on: junta outposts, checkpoints, administrative buildings, and the junta’s military bases.
Incessant artillery shelling into villages in the conflict-torn areas was reported, even when there was no active conflict between the junta and other armed groups in Palaw and Tanintharyi Township.
Junta forces have continuously attempted to eliminate any forms of resistance with disproportionate use of manpower and heavy weaponry as well as simultaneously treating the civilians as their perceived opponents on the battlefield.
Youth has also continued to be treated as the enemies of the junta forces and subjected to killings, arrests and detention, and intimidation on a daily basis. Brutal crackdown on anti-coup resistance and atrocities subsequently committed by the junta forces to eliminate the resistance have only fueled people’s urge to revolt.
Southern Monitor is an independent research group that monitors socio-economic, peace, and human rights issues in Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar's southernmost region.
