An interview with PLA General Secretary Comrade Ni Ni Kyaw on the hard-fought capture of Kan Daunt Police Station in Pale Township
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and allied resistance groups captured the Kan Daunt Police Station in Pale Township, Sagaing Region, on 19 June.
The battle lasted 18 days until the police station was captured. During the fighting, the PLA also shot down a military junta aircraft, killing the pilot.
Shanni Voice spoke with PLA General Secretary Comrade Ni Ni Kyaw regarding the difficult circumstances in which the police station was captured as it was the second largest position for the junta in Pale Township and female comrades also took part in the assault.
Q: First, please tell us about how the PLA captured the Kan Daunt Police Station.
A: We captured the Kant Daunt Police Station on the morning of 19 June. The battle began on 2 June, a little after 5 a.m. On the first day of the battle, they didn’t drop any bombs. But starting the next day, 3 June, they bombed us all day long until the day we captured the position. They used jet fighters and Y-12s, along with paramotors. They also bombed villages. They bombed many areas where our comrades might be present. Their aircraft dropped more than 200 bombs. We haven’t tallied the exact figures yet, but the total number of bombs is already over a thousand.
During this battle, at 12:15 p.m. on 10 June, the PLA managed to shoot down an enemy jet fighter. This is a historic achievement for the PLA, having been reborn in this Spring Revolution and achieving this success after more than four years. We’re also proud that this assault on the Kan Daunt Police Station was a successful strategic victory, achieved through the combined efforts of our command and all our allies. I salute the comrades from here. I also thank all the allies who supported us. I am deeply grateful to each of our allies who fought bravely shoulder to shoulder in unity and determination.
Q: What led the PLA to decide on the military strategy to capture Kan Daunt Police Station?
A: The Kan Daunt Police Station is truly a strategically important police station. Although it’s called a police station, the military had occupied it and turned it into a military base. They built strong trenches with multiple layers of minefields and used that position to control groups in the resistance territory.
Not far from Kan Daunt, there are two notorious Pyu Saw Htee (militia) villages: one is In Ma Htee (also known as In Pin Htee), and the other is Zee Phyu Kone. Zee Phyu Kone is a bit further, over 8 kilometers away. In Pin Htee is 5.2 kilometers from Kan Daunt. So, the enemy mainly used Mi-17 helicopters to send ammunition and weapons to In Pin Htee village. From there, they launched ground offensives. Pyu Saw Htee and junta troops combined forces for ground assaults, entering Kan Daunt to reinforce the police station. They repeatedly tried to attack us comrades after reinforcing.
However, when the PLA comrades and our allies intercepted their advances, their troops panicked, their formations broke, and they had to retreat back into In Pin Htee village. At that time, they relentlessly dropped bombs to allow their troops to advance. But because of our comrades’ resilient spirit and their continued fighting, the enemy couldn’t advance.
Some of them even managed to slip in and attack the station by surprise. That’s why the battle lasted a bit longer. They also dropped weapons and ammunition directly into Kan Daunt Police Station. However, our comrades, who were fighting them at close range, shot at them as they dropped their supplies. This resulted in them sustaining serious casualties. This was the third time we attacked the Kan Daunt Police Station.
This was the first time we, with our command, spearheaded the attack. About two previous times, other local groups jointly attacked the station. For various reasons, they couldn’t capture it and had to retreat.
That area is quite close to Pale. It’s on the Pale-Gangaw road, which is part of the Asian Highway that extends towards India. There’s also a weapons factory (known locally as Ka Pa Sa) to the northwest of Kan Daunt, and another weapons factory to the southwest. Past Pale, that road leads to Monywa and Pakokku. The Monywa-based Northwestern Regional Military Command (Na Ma Kha) was directly commanding the defense of this station during the battle, determined not to let it fall. Also, from Gangaw, you can go towards Chin State, and from Chin State, you can continue to Arakan State. This area is also close to Magway, being practically adjacent. So, these areas are interconnected, forming a crucial main road. This made it very difficult for resistance forces to move around and transport supplies.
Since they were positioned at this crossroads, causing trouble, it was extremely important to capture this station at all costs. This station was like a thorn in our side for both PLA comrades and our allies. If we could remove this big thorn, it would make travel and transportation much easier for our allied comrades. That’s why our PLA comrades led the offensive. And with the trust and unwavering support of our allies, who fought bravely, we successfully captured the Kan Daunt Police Station at 6:40 a.m. on 19 June. Even after we captured the station, they continued to bomb the police station. On 19 June, they bombed from morning until late afternoon. After not bombing for about two days (20 and 21 June), they’ve now started bombing again, for about two or three days. They’re using Y-12s and jet fighters. Also, military council and Pyu Saw Htee columns from the In Ma Htee direction seem to be attempting to push back towards Kan Daunt. Our comrades are intercepting them, so there are still small skirmishes.
Q: The PLA has announced that it shot down a junta aircraft during the 18-day battle. However, there are also claims from the Pale PDF groups that they were responsible for shooting it down. Could you clarify this incident?
A: The battle began on 2 June, and we shot down this jet fighter on 10 June. So, the PLA shot it down within eight days of the battle. However, we’ve seen other organizations claim responsibility for shooting it down. But we can confirm that our claim is accurate. We stand by this and can speak responsibly. There are allied groups who are eyewitnesses to this; it’s not just our word. At this time, we don’t want to elaborate further because it’s not appropriate for resistance groups to argue or quarrel among themselves. So, let them say what they want. We are certain that we shot it down. We cannot yet release specific details about what we used to shoot it down due to security reasons.
Our comrades are the same ones who fought bravely in Operation 1027’s first and second phases. The weapons they acquired were obtained with their lives and blood and sweat, turning enemy weapons into our own as they fought. We trust our comrades; they don’t speak falsely. That’s why I want to say that it was our comrades who shot it down. Regarding the downing of the plane, the enemy (military council) claims it was a crash. Some people echo that claim, while others say they shot it down. The local people know the truth. They will decide which group is more honest, which has greater capability, and which has made more sacrifices. The people will ultimately determine whose claims are trustworthy and accurate, and whose are wrong.
Q: There were also reports that the Yinmarbin PDF was blocking the PLA from sending reinforcements during the offensive on the Kan Daunt Police Station. Did this actually happen, and how did the two sides negotiate?
A: I don’t know which group was doing the blocking, but there were definitely difficulties and obstacles to movement. It wasn’t just the PLA being blocked; even civilians weren’t allowed to pass. They claimed it was due to danger. However, in reality, other PDFs and local defense groups were able to move freely in that area, while the PLA and some civilians were blocked. That much is true. I don’t want to state definitively which group was blocking us or not. I don’t want to disclose certain things that could harm unity. However, our relevant leaders have been informed about this situation and the challenges we faced. We’ve also reported this to the Ministry of Defense (MOD) leaders, and they are aware of it.
Q: Among those captured during the capture of Kan Daunt Police Station, there were child soldiers whom the military council forcibly recruited and sent to the frontlines after military training. What is the PLA’s view on this?
A: Yes, among those captured during the battle, there was one child soldier among those forcibly recruited by the military council. The rest were adults. I feel very sad about it. As a parent, I empathize deeply. However, because this child soldier was forcibly taken by the enemy military council and made into a soldier, we are providing him with good medical care and looking after him.
The military council is losing battles everywhere, so they’re resorting to indiscriminate air attacks because they can’t achieve anything on the ground. When their troop strength is severely depleted, they just drag everyone they find into their army. They take street food vendors, women, and even old people. This shows clear signs that they are losing the war.
On the other hand, they are desperately trying to pressure the resistance forces, trying to gain strength by any means to attack us from the air and on the ground, creating all kinds of trouble. This particular child soldier was lucky to meet us. He’s only about 15 years old. The junta has a history of forcibly recruiting innocent children into their military and committing injustices. Now, we’ve seen it firsthand. This shouldn’t be happening. They also rain down bombs indiscriminately on innocent villages, religious sites like churches, monasteries, and schools. Bombing all these places is an extremely barbaric and evil act. This shouldn’t be done. If they’re so brave, they should fight soldier to soldier, not against innocent civilians. That’s one thing I want to tell the military council: fight soldier to soldier.
Q: You mentioned that female comrades also fought in this battle. How did they take part in the battle?
A: Between 40 and 50 female comrades took part in this battle, including those in allied units. There were female troops in the drone units as well. Among those advancing to the front, there were also four female comrades. They were also in medical units and took part in cutting off enemy lines, so in total, there were over 40 or 50 female comrades. Some of them were there from the very beginning of the offensive. Some fought until the final victory. Some of them fought in defensive positions, while others fought on the offensive.
One or two suffered injuries from artillery shelling by the enemy and had to receive medical treatment. The remaining comrades continued to fight. We respect and are proud of our female comrades because they participated in various ways across different locations. Although this was the first time female comrades were explicitly fought in an offensive on a junta position, women have also participated in other guerrilla-style battles. But this was a bigger battle, and more women participated in it. In previous battles, many women served in medical units and were on the very front lines, pulling back wounded comrades.
They weren’t normally allowed to engage in direct combat, but this time, more women comrades participated. They took on guard post duties and participated in front-line offensive positions. Women are truly courageous and worthy of pride. We commend and are proud of them for being able to fight side-by-side with men. Women have long requested to participate in battles and advance to the front. For various reasons, we weren’t always able to allow women into combat. But this time, they were able to fight effectively. Some did sustain injuries during the fighting.
Q: This victory, the capture of this camp, can also be said to be a victory for the PLA. Are you satisfied with this?
A: We are truly proud and delighted that we, with our command and all allies, successfully launched a strategic attack on Kan Daunt Police Station, making it a historic victory. I’d like to express our immense gratitude to the people and to all our allies. We deeply salute the sacrifices made by each of our female and male comrades. The very fact that I have the opportunity to speak here is because of the flags of victory achieved through our comrades’ selfless sacrifices of life, blood, and sweat, fighting bravely. We are also determined to secure many more victories. The PLA will continue to fight until all oppressed ethnic groups throughout Myanmar are liberated.
Q: We saw PLA representatives attend the BPLA military training graduation ceremony alongside officials from the NUG, TNLA, AA, and KNDF. Can you tell us about your collaborative relations with these allies?
A: We attended the BPLA military training graduation ceremony because we were invited. I had the opportunity to give a speech. During the first phase of Operation 1027, the PLA fought on a different battleground than the BPLA. However, in the second phase, when we attacked Lashio, we fought together. In the first phase, we also had different battlegrounds from the KNDF, but during the 22-day battle for Hseni, we fought alongside the KNDF during the final three, four, and five days, especially when seizing the [Regional Operations Command] 16. So, we had the chance to meet the KNDF on that battlefield. Previously, we also attended training together in the same camps as the BPLA and KNDF, so our comrades already had close relationships. We had already agreed to mutually assist and support each other when battles arose.
During the first phase of Operation 1027 in Hseni, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Mandalay PDF were responsible for drone operations. The NUG also took charge of healthcare for the wounded. CDM doctors, nurses, and all medical personnel collectively took responsibility. Regarding finances, some funding came from the Kokang (MNDAA), and some from the NUG. The NUG was primarily responsible for technical support. In the second phase, the Ta’ang [TNLA] provided donations and carried out their work. In the second phase, one of our columns carried out an offensive in Lashio, and another fought in the Mohnyin area. Everyone took responsibility for their respective areas, including healthcare.
So, we had already met these allies even before these battles. We understand each other’s perspectives, and there’s a shared understanding that we must fight this common enemy together. When the time came, everyone joined hands and fought, and we are still fighting. Currently, we are also fighting alongside the ABSDF and other groups at Kan Daunt Police Station. We also fought together briefly with the BPLA at Twin Nge [village]. Everyone is truly working with a spirit of brotherhood to overthrow this common enemy. Regardless of whether our political views align or not, we put our differences aside and work together on what we agree on, and handle our disagreements separately. We are working with that same spirit, and things are going well when working with them.
Sent by Shanni Voice.