The Biggest Casualty Since The Coup, 1,562 Soldiers Of Myanmar Military Regime Died Last Month

Myanmar military illustration (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - The Civilian National Unity Government (NUG) says more than 1,500 soldiers of the Myanmar military regime have died in the past month, after fighting has escalated since the declaration of war on September 7.

The NUG Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration reported 1,562 soldiers were killed and 552 injured, more than double the August death toll, in attacks by ethnic armed groups and civil resistance fighters between September 7 and October 6.

The civil ministry said that during this period 953 attacks were carried out against military and administrative targets and military-owned businesses.

Citing The Irrawaddy October 8, Yangon reported the highest number of explosions with 178, followed by Mandalay with 81.

Sagaing Region topped the list for violent clashes with 81, followed by Magwe Territory, Kachin State, and Kayah State with 32, 30, and 22 clashes respectively, according to the report.

Since late March, people have been taking up weapons, including catapults, homemade air rifles, and firearms, to fight the junta in response to the killing of peaceful, anti-regime protesters across the country.

Resistance forces stepped up operations against the regime after the NUG declared war against the regime on September 7.

The spokesman for the Myanmar military regime, Major General Zaw Min Tun, acknowledged that attacks on junta personnel increased in Yangon and Mandalay after the announcement of the NUG.

On October 3, about 100 junta soldiers were killed in 37 attacks, including gunfights with junta troops, ambushes on military convoys, and attacks on security posts and military-owned businesses.

"In June and July, about 1,130 soldiers died, and in August, about 580 soldiers died," according to the NUG.

Myanmar military forces have also stepped up inspections, arrests, raids, and violence, including burning and bombarding residential areas, especially in resistance strongholds in Sagaing and Magwe regions and Chin and Kayah states.

According to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP), which monitors arrests and killings by Myanmar's junta forces, at least 1,160 people have been killed and more than 8,800 arrested since the coup.

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.