Myanmar junta claims recapture of gold mining city, Thabeikkyin

With management of Thabeikkyin and Nawnghkio, junta forces maintain two flanks of the city of Mogok — the famend centre of Myanmar’s ruby mining business.

A civil struggle has consumed Myanmar since a 2021 coup deposed the civilian authorities, with the army battling a myriad of pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic armed organisations.

This yr, the junta’s China- and Russia-backed forces have clawed again floor on the northern entrance, and state media mentioned its troopers managed “to fully retake” the city of Thabeikkyin on Wednesday.

One resident, Ye Dinn, mentioned individuals had fled combating to shelter within the forest or close by colleges and monasteries.

“People have nothing to eat and no place to flee to,” the 65-year-old mentioned.

Thabeikkyin, situated about 100 kilometres north of the second most populous metropolis of Mandalay, is a profitable hive of gold mining sitting on the banks of the Irrawaddy River bisecting Myanmar.

State mouthpiece the Global New Light of Myanmar mentioned an anti-coup alliance attacked Thabeikkyin with “overwhelming strength” final August, however its counteroffensive retook the city after 17 main battles.

“We are really scared,” mentioned one other resident, talking on situation of anonymity.

“Nowhere is safe. We are all looking for a safe place, but people have no idea where they should go and hide.”

The junta final Thursday mentioned it had recaptured the northeastern city of Nawnghkio, on one other key freeway in direction of Mandalay metropolis, fending allied rebels again additional into the fringes of the nation.

Earlier this week, guerrillas mentioned they ambushed a junta flotilla of 5 ships crusing up the Irrawaddy north of Mandalay — one other obvious signal of the army’s renewed regional offensive.

With management of Thabeikkyin and Nawnghkio, junta forces maintain two flanks of the city of Mogok — the famend centre of Myanmar’s ruby mining business which insurgent forces claimed final summer season.

Mines excavating valuable metals, gems and uncommon earth parts are coveted by all factions in Myanmar’s civil struggle, permitting them to fill their coffers and fund their offensives.

Some 3.5 million individuals are residing displaced amid the struggle, in response to the United Nations, whereas greater than half the nation of round 50 million now lives in poverty.