bangkok —
Anti-junta forces captured a vital town near Myanmar's heartland this week, bolstering their position against the military junta. The offensive, in northern Shan state, involved a coordinated effort by various resistance groups, including the People’s Defense Forces (Mandalay) and the Three Brotherhood Alliance.
The PDF (Mandalay) is made up largely of young, educated professionals and is one of several armed groups formed by Myanmar's shadow government, the National Unity Government (NUG), which hopes to restore democratic rule in the country.
During a weekslong battle that culminated Wednesday with the seizure of Nawnghkio Township, the resistance forces seized a large cache of weapons and ammunition from several government army bases surrounding the town. These included a multi-rocket launcher system, providing a significant boost to anti-junta military capabilities.
In an interview with VOA on Thursday, PDF (Mandalay) spokesperson Osmond emphasized the importance of capturing Nawnghkio, highlighting its strategic military value and the potential to shift the balance of power in the region.
"Nawnghkio town borders the Mandalay region and Mount Shan. Therefore, we were able to seize a geographically important place,” he said. “The operation started on June 25, coinciding with the second part of the 1027 operation, and the town was completely captured on July 10, two weeks later.”
Operation 1027 refers to a highly successful rebel offensive begun on October 27, 2023.
The PDF (Mandalay) was joined in the assault by elements of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic force based in northern Shan state. The PDF (Mandalay) confirmed Thursday in a separate statement that the combined forces had captured the junta's last remaining military base in Nawnghkio Township.
"All the weapons and ammunition we have seized will be used to eradicate the military dictatorship," said the PDF (Mandalay) spokesperson, who added that the resistance fighters had captured more than 100 prisoners of war.
"Among the prisoners of war taken by us, some willingly surrendered and some were captured during battle,” said the spokesperson. “We also arrested Lieutenant Colonel Hlaine Tun Aung, as he was attempting to escape from his base camp” near Mandalay. “We pursued him and were finally able to catch him and put him under arrest."
In a phone interview with VOA, former army Major Naung Yoe explained the strategic significance of the region.
Naung Yoe, along with other former soldiers from the Myanmar military, fled the country after the 2021 coup and joined a civil disobedience group known as Peoples Goal, based in the Thai-Myanmar border region.
"By capturing Nawnghkio, the resistance forces can now control the Mandalay-Lashio road,” Naung Yoe said.
The army still controls the supply route from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin, another strategically important town near Mandalay and home to one of the military’s primary training academies. But the military has “now lost the Mandalay-Lashio route, showing that junta forces can't completely secure their ground supply routes to this and other areas in upper Shan state."
Naung Yoe also said the road running through Nawnghkio was the starting point for the military junta to send support overland to its troops in northern Shan state. “Now the junta can no longer use these crucial routes."
Nawnghkio is also located on Myanmar's most important trade route between Mandalay and China.
“This route is now controlled by revolutionary forces, delivering a major trade blow to the junta,” Naung Yoe said. “China will need to reach an agreement to reopen the route, since it has a such significant impact on trade."
The former army major also pointed to the significance of weapons captured by the resistance forces, many of which the rebels could not buy.
"The seized arsenal includes advanced weaponry such as howitzers, missile launchers, 84 mm Carl Gustaf anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft guns and infantry-support machine guns. These tactical military weapons will aid in offensives in heartland areas," he said.
"The anti-aircraft weapons obtained from the PDF (Mandalay) can now threaten the junta's aircraft, providing a significant strategic advantage,” Naung Yoe added. “In terms of military strategy, these captured weapons make the resistance forces more capable and enhance their long-term prospects.”
As of Friday, the Myanmar junta had not officially addressed its losses in Nawnghkio. On Tuesday, however, it released a video about recent battles for the nearby town of Lashio, headquarters of the junta’s northeastern command.