Junta shifts artillery to Taungup

By Admin 13 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
June 13 2024, Taungup

Myanmar’s military regime is moving artillery previously deployed in Thandwe Township to Taungup Town, according to sources.

Infantry Battalion No. 55, Light Infantry Battalion No. 566, and Artillery Battalion Nos. 375 and 346 are based in Thandwe Township. Artillery deployed on Bartaung Hill, near the staff-quarters for civil servants in Thandwe Town, were moved to a similar neighbourhood in Taungup on Wednesday.

“There were reports that the Arakkha Army (AA) would attack junta positions in Taungup. So, the regime is preparing a defence in Taungup. It has no separate artillery base in Taungup. It only has artillery in its battalions there,” said a source.

The regime has tightened security, and reinforced troops and weapons since early this month. Taungup residents have reported spotting hundreds of Muslim conscripts among the ranks of junta battalions in Taungup.

A junta warship near Kyauknimaw in Ramree Township and junta positions in Taungup Town fired artillery shells on Wednesday while there was no fighting, panicking local residents.

“People are in a state of panic. Some residents have fled. Fighting has been raging in Thandwe, so it might spread to Taungup soon,” said a Taungup resident.

Taungup Town residents and residents of nearby villages have fled their homes in recent days for fear of possible fighting.