KNU and allies rescue three CDM police officers in Karen State

Three police officers taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) against military rule were rescued on Monday following an attack on a police station in Karen (Kayin) State’s Myawaddy Township, according to local reports.

Armed forces under the command of the Karen National Union (KNU) and their resistance allies also captured three other police officers in the attack, Karen State-based news outlet KIC reported, citing KNU sources.

The KNU-led forces successfully withdrew after overrunning the Waw Lay police station in Myawaddy on Monday morning, according to KIC. No further details were available at the time of reporting.

The night before the assault on the Waw Lay police station, KNU forces also carried out attacks in eastern Bago Region’s Htantabin Township and Mon State’s Kyaikhto Township, sources in both areas told Myanmar Now.

According to Saw De Pho, an officer with Brigade 2 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the group clashed with junta troops from Infantry Battalion (IB) 73 in Zayat Gyi, a village in Htantabin Township, on Sunday evening as a “warning”.

The KNLA previously clashed with IB73 in May, when it killed two junta troops, Saw De Pho told Myanmar Now. Casualty figures from the clash on Sunday, which lasted about an hour, were still not known, he added.

IB73 has been active in KNU territory in Bago Region’s Nyaunglebin Township and Karen State’s Mutraw (Hpapun) District, according to Saw De Pho.

Meanwhile, KNLA troops and their allies killed three regime soldiers at a checkpoint on the Yangon-Mawlamyine highway in Kyaikhto Township on Sunday, according to an officer of the Kyaikhto Revolutionary Force (KRF).

mote_palin_checkpoint.jpg

Three police officers in plain clothes crouch on the ground after being captured in Myawaddy Township on June 13 (KIC/CJ)

The Mote Palin checkpoint, which is located about 25km from the town of Kyaikhto, has been attacked at least 10 times since it was set up about a year ago, the KRF officer said.

“They always fire their weapons randomly and stop every passing vehicle for searches,” he said, explaining why the checkpoint has been a frequent target of local resistance forces.

Despite the regime’s calls for peace talks with ethnic armed groups as it continues to face unprecedented pressure from a host of resistance forces around the country, the KNU continues to mount attacks on junta targets in its territory.

In March, it overran a junta base in the village of Maw Khee, seizing a large cache of weapons and ammunition, and last month, it seized control of the Thay Baw Boe base near the Thai-Myanmar border, capturing six soldiers and killing several others.

IB73 has been active in KNU territory in Bago Region’s Nyaunglebin Township and Karen State’s Mutraw (Hpapun) District, according to Saw De Pho.

Meanwhile, KNLA troops and their allies killed three regime soldiers at a checkpoint on the Yangon-Mawlamyine highway in Kyaikhto Township on Sunday, according to an officer of the Kyaikhto Revolutionary Force (KRF).

mote_palin_checkpoint.jpg

Three police officers in plain clothes crouch on the ground after being captured in Myawaddy Township on June 13 (KIC/CJ)

The Mote Palin checkpoint, which is located about 25km from the town of Kyaikhto, has been attacked at least 10 times since it was set up about a year ago, the KRF officer said.

“They always fire their weapons randomly and stop every passing vehicle for searches,” he said, explaining why the checkpoint has been a frequent target of local resistance forces.

Despite the regime’s calls for peace talks with ethnic armed groups as it continues to face unprecedented pressure from a host of resistance forces around the country, the KNU continues to mount attacks on junta targets in its territory.

In March, it overran a junta base in the village of Maw Khee, seizing a large cache of weapons and ammunition, and last month, it seized control of the Thay Baw Boe base near the Thai-Myanmar border, capturing six soldiers and killing several others.

Five people plunged three storeys to the ground while attempting to flee during a raid by regime forces on August 10

Survivors of raid that left two people dead face up to life in prison

Three of the accused sustained serious injuries after falling from a three-storey apartment building while trying to escape

Five people plunged three storeys to the ground while attempting to flee during a raid by regime forces on August 10

Three of the accused sustained serious injuries after falling from a three-storey apartment building while trying to escape

The others sentenced on Tuesday were Kyaw Kyaw Oo, a taxi driver who was arrested before the raid; Kaung Sett and Min Hein Khant, who were apprehended later; and Sai Win Lwin Htut, whose details were not available at the time of reporting.

According to the father of Ye Min Oo, families were not allowed to meet with the prisoners until after they received their sentences.

“I’m in no position to say anything about the other kids, but Ye Min Oo is a very adaptable person. He can survive essentially anywhere,” he said, noting that his son—who was transferred to an interrogation centre soon after his release from the hospital—had still not fully recovered from his injuries.

“He only told us to give him some support from the background so that he could live comfortably in prison. He’s in good health save for a limp in his left leg, which I think is going to be a lifelong disability,” he added.

Poe Kyawt Kyawt Khant, the only woman among the 10 detainees, was handed a five-year sentence for possession of explosives, according to Myanmar Now’s source.

She was pregnant at the time of her arrest and reportedly gave birth inside Insein Prison in late February, the source added.

Kyaw Kyaw Oo, Kaung Sett, and Min Hein Khant each received 12-year sentences after they were found guilty of illegal possession of explosives and being accessories to offences under the Explosive Substances Act.

Kaung Sett and Min Hein Khant, who were arrested in November of last year, were also accused of being members of an urban guerrilla group and are facing additional charges, according to the court source, who was unable to provide further details.

Kaung Min Thant, the only person to escape the raid on the 44th  Street apartment, told Myanmar Now that he managed to get away by hiding on the roof of the building for 12 hours before fleeing to a safe area.

29-year-old Wai Wai Myint (Soe Myat Thu/ Facebook)

The ‘Apple’ that fell in 44th street

The fatal fall of Wai Wai Myint—or “Apple” to her friends—was testament to her refusal to give in to injustice

29-year-old Wai Wai Myint (Soe Myat Thu/ Facebook)

The fatal fall of Wai Wai Myint—or “Apple” to her friends—was testament to her refusal to give in to injustice

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