Myanmar Military Regime Troops Ambushed: 9 Soldiers Killed, 20 Police Weapons Confiscated

JAKARTA - Nine junta soldiers were killed in a shootout with civil resistance fighters in Kale Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday afternoon.

The Kale People's Defense Force (PDF) ambushed three military vehicles carrying about 50 troops on the Gangaw-Kale highway, according to Kale PDF as quoted by The Irrawaddy Tuesday, June 29.

Myanmar military regime troops traveling from Gangaw to Kale were ambushed between Thanphu and Khway Kyein villages. PDF Kale said at least nine junta soldiers were killed, while there were no PDF casualties. The Irrawaddy could not independently confirm the victim.

A farmer nearby was injured by a bullet, a resident of Thanphu village told the Irrawaddy on Monday. Meanwhile, a 56-year-old villager was detained by junta forces after a shootout with resistance fighters, despite having declared unrelated to the conflict.

Most of Thanphu's 4,000 villagers and some Khway Kyein villagers have fled their homes.

"We don't want war because most people are sick and we are facing the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who have fled are suffering hardships in the forest," the resident said.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 20 military vehicles traveling from Gangaw to Kale were hit by landmines laid by Kale's PDF on the Gangaw-Kale highway near the village of Natchaung. PDF Kale says there were military casualties in the attack

Separately, the armed ethnic group Arakan Army (AA) has seized weapons from the junta police stationed in the grounds of the sacred Mahamuni Buddhist Temple in Kyauktaw, Rakhine State.

AA troops surrounded a temporary police post at the temple at around 01:00 on Sunday, then carried out an ambush without resistance from the Myanmar police who were there.

The AA then disarmed more than 20 police officers from the Mrauk-U police battalion living there, according to a Kyauktaw resident who lives near the pagoda.

"AA has repeatedly warned against placing junta troops in the temple. Pilgrims were too afraid to visit the pagoda because of their presence. So AA troops surrounded the police and took their weapons around 1am on Sunday. But the police officers were not injured," said a resident.

"There are some problems near the Mahamuni Temple. But both sides have resolved them through negotiations. There are no problems for now," said spokesman AA Khaing Thukha.

He declined to provide details and also did not comment on the alleged seizure of weapons by AA from police at the temple.

Apart from the pilgrims, the merchants who usually set up shop in the pagoda had avoided it for fear of being interrogated.

"There was no fighting and we didn't hear gunshots. We heard that weapons were confiscated. The locals don't like them living in the pagoda grounds. We don't know if they (Arakan Army) did that in response to the public's wishes or for some other reason. It's just them. who knows what happened," said one resident.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.