Latest news with #People'sDefenceForces
The Star
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Myanmar junta offers cash rewards to anti-coup defectors
Myanmar has been consumed by civil war since a 2021 coup. -- PHOTO: AFP YANGON (AFP): Myanmar's junta said Friday it is offering cash rewards to fighters willing to desert armed groups defying its rule and "return to the legal fold" ahead of a slated election. The Southeast Asian country has been consumed by civil war since a 2021 coup, with the embattled junta facing an array of pro-democracy guerillas and ethnic armed rebels. After suffering major battlefield reverses, the military has touted elections around the end of the year as a pathway to peace -- plans denounced as a sham by opposition groups and international monitors. State media The Global New Light of Myanmar, said Friday "individuals who returned to the legal fold with arms and ammunition are being offered specific cash rewards". The junta mouthpiece did not specify how much cash it is offering, but said 14 anti-coup fighters had surrendered since it issued a statement pledging to "welcome" defectors two weeks ago. "These individuals chose to abandon the path of armed struggle due to their desire to live peacefully within the framework of the law," the newspaper said. The surrendered fighters included 12 men and two women, it added. Nine were members of ethnic armed groups, while five were from the pro-democracy "People's Defence Forces" -- formed after the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected civilian government four years ago. The junta's offer of a gilded olive branch matches a tactic used by its opponents -- who have previously tried to tempt military deserters with cash rewards. The "National Unity Government", a self-proclaimed administration in exile dominated by ousted lawmakers, has called the junta's call for cooperation "a strategy filled with deception aimed at legitimising their power-consolidating sham election". - AFP
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Myanmar junta offers cash rewards to anti-coup defectors
YANGON: Myanmar's junta said today it is offering cash rewards to fighters willing to desert armed groups defying its rule and "return to the legal fold" ahead of a slated election. The Southeast Asian country has been consumed by civil war since a 2021 coup, with the embattled junta facing an array of pro-democracy guerillas and ethnic armed rebels. After suffering major battlefield reverses, the military has touted elections around the end of the year as a pathway to peace -- plans denounced as a sham by opposition groups and international monitors. State media 'The Global New Light of Myanmar' said today "individuals who returned to the legal fold with arms and ammunition are being offered specific cash rewards". The junta mouthpiece did not specify how much cash it is offering, but said 14 anti-coup fighters had surrendered since it issued a statement pledging to "welcome" defectors two weeks ago. "These individuals chose to abandon the path of armed struggle due to their desire to live peacefully within the framework of the law," the newspaper said. The surrendered fighters included 12 men and two women, it added. Nine were members of ethnic armed groups, while five were from the pro-democracy "People's Defence Forces" – formed after the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected civilian government four years ago. The junta's offer of a gilded olive branch matches a tactic used by its opponents -- who have previously tried to tempt military deserters with cash rewards. The "National Unity Government", a self-proclaimed administration in exile dominated by ousted lawmakers, has called the junta's call for cooperation "a strategy filled with deception aimed at legitimising their power-consolidating sham election".
New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Myanmar junta offers cash rewards to anti-coup defectors
YANGON: Myanmar's junta said Friday it is offering cash rewards to fighters willing to desert armed groups defying its rule and "return to the legal fold" ahead of a slated election. The Southeast Asian country has been consumed by civil war since a 2021 coup, with the embattled junta facing an array of pro-democracy guerillas and ethnic armed rebels. After suffering major battlefield reverses, the military has touted elections around the end of the year as a pathway to peace -- plans denounced as a sham by opposition groups and international monitors. State media The Global New Light of Myanmar said Friday "individuals who returned to the legal fold with arms and ammunition are being offered specific cash rewards." The junta mouthpiece did not specify how much cash it is offering, but said 14 anti-coup fighters had surrendered since it issued a statement pledging to "welcome" defectors two weeks ago. "These individuals chose to abandon the path of armed struggle due to their desire to live peacefully within the framework of the law," the newspaper said. The surrendered fighters included 12 men and two women, it added. Nine were members of ethnic armed groups, while five were from the pro-democracy "People's Defence Forces" -- formed after the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected civilian government four years ago. The junta's offer of a gilded olive branch matches a tactic used by its opponents -- who have previously tried to tempt military deserters with cash rewards. The "National Unity Government", a self-proclaimed administration in exile dominated by ousted lawmakers, has called the junta's call for cooperation "a strategy filled with deception aimed at legitimising their power-consolidating sham election."
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Massive influx of new refugees in Mizoram
The Mizoram government has alerted the Centre about intense clashes between two armed groups of Myanmar spilling over to the border town of Zokhawthar in the northeastern state's Champai district, people aware of the matter said, adding the ongoing fight in the neighbouring country has led to a massive influx of new refugees into Mizoram. Massive influx of new refugees in Mizoram 'On Saturday night, the bullets and shells fired between the two groups reached the Indian side and hit some houses in Zokhawthar town. Through the border guarding forces and civil society organisations of Mizoram, meetings have been held with the people on the other side (Myanmar). They have been told to contain their fighting on their side of the border,' an officer aware of the matter said, requesting anonymity. 'Additionally on Monday, we also alerted the government about the situation,' the officer added. The last time such infighting had spilled over to Mizoram was in October 2023 when the Myanmar military's air raids at the camps of the People's Defence Forces had also hit some of the houses in Zokhawthar. The area across Zokhawthar border is Myanmar' Falam district, which is controlled by the rebel forces that are at war with the military junta. Officials said the ongoing fight between People's Defence Forces (PDF) and Chin National Defence Force across the border has led to a massive fresh influx of refugees into Mizoram. People from Champhai district said at least 4,000-5,000 refugees from border villages of Myanmar have entered India since Saturday, when the fighting between the two rebel groups intensified over control of camps in Falam district. 'Refugees are coming in groups of hundreds at two towns of Zokhawthar and Vaphai in Champhai district. The number of refugees in Champhai district alone is nearly 30,000,' an official aware of the development said. Since the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar, around 30,000 people from that country have entered India and are living in Mizoram. Most agencies working on the ground, however, maintain that the state government's data of 30,000-35,000 Myanmar refugees living in Mizoram was incorrect and that the accurate number was more than twice or thrice. Security agencies believe the large influx of refugees — who enter India through the porous Indo-Myanmar border — in the northeastern state could be a potential internal security problem in the coming years. The ministry of home affairs has started work to build a border fence along the India-Myanmar border to stop infiltration, but officials said this project might take years. The Mizoram government has welcomed the refugees and provided relief by coordinating with state's prominent civil societies, including the Young Mizo Association (YMA). Myanmar refugees have also found work, started their own business by opening kiosks and shops in the border area. Hundreds of children also go to schools in Mizoram. Malsawmliana, general secretary of the Central YMA, said the Zokhawthar and Vaphai branches of the civil society organisation are providing food and shelter for the refugees. 'There were a number of bullets flying in Zokhawthar village because of the fighting but fortunately no damage has been reported. The Central YMA is also resolved to provide rice and other food items. We will send it soon,' Malsawmliana said. YMA is one of the most influential CSOs in Mizoram.
Euronews
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
At least 17 killed in junta air strike on Myanmar school, reports say
At least 17 people have been killed in an air strike by Myanmar's military junta on a village in the central Sagaing region, according to several reports on Monday. The death toll from the Monday morning bombing on Ohe Htein Twin village in the region's Tabayin township, also known as Depayin, reported by independent media in Myanmar ranged from 17 to more than 20. Others reported that the morning attack killed at least 22 students and two teachers and wounded dozens of others. A member of the White Depeyin People's Defence Force resistance group fighting against military rule said a fighter jet dropped a bomb directly onto the school, where students from primary to high school levels were studying. The area is about 115 kilometres northwest of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city. The resistance fighter, who rushed to the site of the attack to help the victims, spoke on condition of anonymity because he was afraid of being arrested by the military. He said that 20 students and two teachers were killed in the attack on the school, which is operated by the country's pro-democracy movement, and some 50 others were wounded. Three nearby houses were also damaged. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the opposition's National Unity Government, said he received the same information on the number of casualties and warned the death toll could rise. The organisation is the main opposition group coordinating resistance to military rule. Sagaing region, near the border with India, has been a stronghold of armed resistance and the military in recent years has stepped up air strikes against the local pro-democracy People's Defence Forces. The resistance has no effective defence against air attacks. Neither the military government nor state-controlled media have released any information about the reported air strike. The junta has increasingly used air strikes to counter a widespread armed resistance against its rule, which began in February 2021 when it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 6,600 civilians are estimated to have been killed by security forces since then, according to figures compiled by non-governmental organisations. In September 2022, aerial attacks by the military's helicopters against a school and village in Let Yet Kone village in the same township killed at least 13 people, including seven children. Air strikes in April 2023 killed as many as 160 people, including children, who were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing region's Kanbalu township. Air strikes in Myanmar garnered increased attention recently when numerous reports deemed credible by the United Nations and human rights groups said that they continued to be carried out in the wake of the devastating 28 March earthquake, after which the military and resistance groups declared ceasefires to facilitate relief efforts. US President Donald Trump has indicated he is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a present from the ruling family of Qatar during his upcoming trip to the Middle East this week. As US officials say the jet could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft — the famed Air Force One, questions arose over what would constitute an immensely expensive gift donated from a foreign government to a serving official. While the Qatari government said a final decision hasn't yet been reached, Trump defended the idea as a fiscally smart move in a post shared on his Truth Social platform Sunday. 'So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a gift, free of charge, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, top dollar, for the plane,' said Trump, adding 'anybody can do that.' According to ABC News, the US president would use the aircraft as his plane until right before he leaves office in January 2029 — when ownership would be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library. Qatar's media attaché, Ali Al-Ansari, said that a decision had not yet been reached, while 'the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments" of Qatar's Ministry of Defence and its US counterpart. According to ABC, officials from the Trump administration have prepared an analysis which demonstrates that accepting the plane would be legal. However, the US Constitution's Emoluments Clause bars anyone in government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any 'king, prince, or foreign state' without congressional consent. The US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer poked fun at Trump's 'America first' political slogan, stating 'nothing says 'America First' like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar." 'It's not just bribery, it's premium foreign influence with extra legroom,' added Schumer. Other lawmakers also expressed dismay online, noting that an aircraft being offered by a foreign government could present security risks if used by a US president. The existing planes used as Air Force One are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems which allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world. Jordan Libowitz, communications director for the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said such a gift would be 'unprecedented". 'The totality of gifts given to a president over their term doesn't get close to this level,' Libowitz said.
