Alan Clements has spent over 40 years advocating for non-violent resistance to military dictatorship in Myanmar. He speaks to Mon Mon Myat about his latest book “Conversation with a dictator: A challenge to the authoritarian assault” based on a fictional conversation he had with Myanmar Senior General, and 2021 military coup leader, Min Aung Hlaing. […]| DVB
The People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Sagaing Region, along with its allied resistance forces, reported they had seized Indaw town, which borders Kachin State, after capturing the remaining regime outpost on a hill locally known as Japan Cave in Indaw Township on Monday. “There were fatalities on both sides,” a PDF member told DVB. But […]| DVB
Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) said an airstrike by regime forces had killed at least 17 students and injured 20 others at a school in an resistance-controlled area on Monday, despite a ceasefire extension from May 6-31. The school, which is operated by the NUG, is in the central Myanmar town of Depayin in the […]| DVB
The Dawei Democracy Movement Strike Committee told DVB that there will be environmental damage caused to natural habitat surrounding the Tanintharyi Region capital by the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ), if the agreement between Moscow and the regime in Naypyidaw moves forward. “It is definitely harmful to the environment. There is no precise legal protection […]| DVB
On Thursday, a court in Buenos Aires, Argentina issued arrest warrants for 25 Myanmar military and state officials, including jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, former President Htin Kyaw, regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, and his deputy Soe Win, on accusations of genocide against the Rohingya in a case launched by the Burmese Rohingya […]| DVB
Special Advisory Council for Myanmar on China’s ceasefire The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) spoke to DVB about China’s intervention in northern Shan State and its pressure on the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) to hand back Lashio Township to the regime. It claimed in a statement on Monday that this was a […]| DVB
China’s President Xi Jinping pledged on Friday to support Myanmar in its rebuilding efforts following the Southeast Asian nation’s deadliest earthquake in recent years, according to state media Xinhua. President Xi met with Myanmar regime leader Min Aung Hlaing in Moscow, Russia, and discussed several initiatives. The natural disaster has bolstered the position of Min Aung Hlaing, […]| DVB
The U.N. reported on Monday that at least 2.5 million tons of debris—equivalent to 125,000 truckloads—need to be cleared in the six hardest hit regions impacted by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28. Residents of Sagaing – the earthquake’s epicenter – Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Bago, Magway and Shan State have lived outdoors among the rubble […]| DVB
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and its allied resistance forces, resumed its offensive on the regime Military Operations Command (MOC) 21 in Bhamo Township of southern Kachin State – three days after the end of a 20-day ceasefire – on April 25. A source close to the KIA told DVB on the condition of anonymity […]| DVB
Six killed by airstrikes on northern Shan State’s Kutkai The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) stated that six civilians were killed and seven others were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Kutkai town of northern Shan State on Wednesday. Kutkai, located 47 miles (75 km) north of the regional capital […]| DVB
Guest contributor Igor Blažević This interview with economist and Myanmar expert Sean Turnell was conducted to explore the main insights and recommendations from Turnell’s report, “The Military, Money, and Myanmar: Breaking the Nexus,” commissioned and published by the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M). It is now available in Burmese. Turnell, a former economic advisor […]| DVB
Guest contributor Shafiur Rahman My first message to a colleague after reading the International Crisis Group report, “The Dangers of a Rohingya Insurgency,” was just two words: strategic ambiguity. The report circles the camp, catalogues every rogue speech and shadowy outfit, yet steps carefully around the biggest actor shaping them all: Bangladeshi state policy. It […]| DVB
At least seven civilians were killed and over 20 others were injured by an airstrike on mining sites located in Mawchi town of Hpasawng Township, Karenni State, on Wednesday. Hpasawng is located 73 miles (117 km) south of the state capital Loikaw. “We’ve recorded the regime’s attacks on civilians to take action against the perpetrators […]| DVB
Myanmar and the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ principle Burma’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Kyaw Moe Tun addressed a general assembly plenary meeting on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City on Wednesday. He claimed that the […]| DVB
Resistance forces in Karen State told DVB that 30 regime troops were killed by retaliatory airstrikes as they seized the Thebawboe outpost in southern Myawaddy Township on Tuesday. Myawaddy is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the state capital Hpa-an, and across the Myanmar-Thailand border from Tak Province. A source in the Karen National […]| DVB
The Karen National Union (KNU) announced that its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allied resistance forces, defeated regime forces in two days of fighting and seized its Bawti outpost in Dawei Township, Tanintharyi Region, on Tuesday. “The outpost was manned by 40 troops,” Padoh Saw Eh Nar, the KNU secretary […]| DVB
Resistance forces in Thabeikkyin Township of Mandalay Region and Bhamo Township of Kachin State told DVB that 16 civilians were killed and nearly 40 others were injured by airstrikes on Yayhtwak village of Thabeikkyin and Nyaungpintha in Bhamo on May 7-8. “The military intentionally attacked these civilians,” a member of a resistance group in Bhamo, […]| DVB
Russia welcomes Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar head of state Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing was officially welcomed to Russia as Burma’s “Head of State” on Monday, marking his first trip abroad since an Argentine court issued an arrest warrant on Feb. 13 against him, and 24 others, on allegations of genocide against the Rohingya. […]| DVB
Airstrikes on school kill 18 in Sagaing Region Two airstrikes killed at least 18 civilians—most of them children—and injured 50 others at a school in Ohhteintwin village of Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, on Monday, according to residents. The school was reportedly operated by the National Unity Government (NUG). Depayin is located 40 miles (64 km) north […]| DVB
Min Aung Hlaing claims international support for regime election Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing claimed that world leaders he met with during his trip to Russia for the 80th Victory Day commemorations support his election plan, scheduled to begin in December. He did not mention any countries by name, but his office announced that he had met […]| DVB
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) told DVB that it has seized control of Mogok Township in northern Mandalay Region on Wednesday. Mogok is famed for its ruby mines, which are a major source of revenue for both the military and ethnic armed groups active in neighboring Shan State. “We took control of the entire […]| DVB
Min Aung Hlaing to attend 80th Victory Day in Russia Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Kyu Kyu Hla left Naypyidaw International Airport on Wednesday for Moscow, Russia to attend the 80th Victory Day ceremony on May 9, regime media reported. Twenty world leaders are scheduled to attend the annual event, expected to […]| DVB
One civilian killed by airstrike in Mandalay Region The People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Mogok Township of Mandalay Region told DVB that one civilian was killed and one was injured by three airstrikes on Mogok town May 2-3. An unknown number of homes and buildings were destroyed. Mogok is located 124 miles (200 km) northeast […]| DVB
