University of Loikaw is occupied and hundreds of teachers and family members detained by the Kayah Opposition Alliance Forces

Yangon, 16 November 2023

The University of Loikaw in Kayah State bordering Thailand is occupied by the Kayah ethnic KNDF, KDF and NLD-PDF alliance forces on 14 November after 2 days of intense fighting. The Kayah alliance forces launched offensive on 11 November and attacked the State capital Loikaw and its University on the 13th.

Remaining elements of the Myanmar junta army defending the University surrendered. The KNDF released the statement and video evidence about 32 Prisoner of War and over 120 captured weapons claiming they have annihilated junta’s two forward battalions which suffered over 100 deaths. They also claimed that they evacuated 134 University employees and 64 family members to their bases who wanted to defect as an act of CDM Civil Defiance Movement. But the statement released on 14 November by the NLD led NUG exiled Government’s Ministry of Home Affairs, posted on their official Social Media pages contradict the claim. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs of NUG described the detainees as non-CDM or collaborators of the Junta Government and taking legal action accordingly. There are unconfirmed reports and photos circulated on social media about the corpse of the Loikaw University’s Rector Dr. Aung Khin Myint who seemed to be hacked to death with a opposition fighter stepping on his body.

In other development in the neighboring Karen State, a Thai citizen of Karen origin declared the Independence of Karen state and himself as the President of the newly independent country of Kawthoolei (name of Karen Land in Karen language). The self proclaimed President and general of the Kawthoolei country, SawNeDah Mya founded Kawthoolei Army in the end of 2022 with the wave of new recruits after 2021 coup. He is the youngest son of late General Saw Bo Mya of KNU/KNLA which is the major rebel group founded since 1948 independence from Britain. The KNU signed the ceased fire agreement with Myanmar Army since 2015. SawNeDah Mya was the commander of KNDO the local armed militia for KNU when the Junta staged coup in 2021. He was expelled from the organization on early 2022 after the conviction of the mass murder of 25 Bamar ethnic civilian road workers in the Karen State on 2021. Soon after his suspension from the KNU, he declared the formation of KTLA, the Kaw Thoo Lei Army with followers and new recruits supported by donations from overseas Karen in diaspora.

In the North Eastern front, the offensive by Northern Alliance Forces are on stalemate. The Alliance declared on 15 November that they have occupied 147 outposts from the Junta Army and preparing the final assault on the Lauk Kai city, the capital of trouble Kokang sub-state/prefecture in Chinese border. The city is seemed to be in firm grip of Junta and Myanmar State Media announced the cooperation on cracking down of Chinese criminal gangs based in the area in cooperation with Chinese government.

In the western front, Rakhine AA forces briefly occupied Pauk Taw township on 16 November morning. There are reports about fighting in several areas of the State and situation on the is too complicated for independent reconfirmation.

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