As military operations escalate nationwide in efforts to dismantle the Junta, local resistance forces in Mon State warn hostilities could escalate in the coming weeks, urging public vigilance.
Attacks by ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) in Kachin, Karenni, Karen, and Rakhine States, has seen a series of major defeats for the Junta, including the loss of heavily fortified bases and command centers.
The Than Lwin Times has received confirmation that that local resistance forces in Mon State are gearing up for similar ambitious, large-scale operations.
Ko Aye Min Tun, spokesperson for the People's Defense Force - Thaton District (PDF-Thaton), urged civilians to prioritize their security and advised them to stockpile food in preparation for potential contingencies.
"The fighting is only going to get more intense. So, I would like to advise people to stockpile goods that they need in advance and do what they should prepare. And avoid traveling to areas close to Junta troops as much as possible”, he said.
Over the span of over three years following the coup, resistance forces have conducted raids on the Junta's police stations, checkpoints, and frontline posts in the townships of Mon State where the revolution held significant sway.
Several military headquarters and battalions, including the Southeast Regional Command based in Mawlamyine, tasked with overseeing the junta's defense, security, and operational planning in Karen and Mon states, have also been targeted by drone-delivered bombing operations.
Yet the hills in Mon State where the Junta strategically positioned artillery battalions remain untouched and undisturbed.
Bo Yan Naing, operational commander of Daw Na military column operating under the Southern Regional Command stationed in Ye Township, emphasized that the operation demands substantial resources, indicating that its completion will undoubtedly be a lengthy process.
He further remarked that, given the current circumstances, the Junta troops have ceased conducting marching patrols in areas controlled by the Daw Na column, instead focusing solely on fortifying their defenses.
The Daw Na column functions as a component of the People's Defense Force (PDF), operating under the National Unity Government (NUG) in Mon, Karen, and Tanintharyi regions, in southern Myanmar.
In December, NUG’s Deputy Minister of Defense Nai Kao Rot personally visited approximately 10 resistance forces in Mon State, including the MSRF and Daw Na column, to discuss operational plans.
