An interview with a Madaya Township resident familiar with resistance groups on the current situation in Singu, Thabeikkyin, and Madaya Townships under MDY-PDF control
The military junta has repeatedly targeted civilian areas in the villages in Singu, Thabeikkyin, and eastern Madaya Townships in Mandalay Region, causing civilian deaths amid ongoing ground operations.
In recent days, the junta has intensified airstrikes on civilian targets, resulting in at least 40 civilian deaths and nearly 60 injuries between 1 and 19 April, prompting the Mandalay People’s Defense Force (MDY-PDF) to call for international monitoring and action.
According to the MDY-PDF statement, Thabeikkyin Township was bombed 13 times, Singu Township 4 times, and Madaya Township once. To learn more about the current situation, Shanni Voice reached out to a Madaya resident who is familiar with the resistance groups.
Q: We’ve heard that junta forces are advancing into Madaya and Singu. So, what’s the current situation on the ground?
A: The junta is conducting ground offensives in the eastern part of Madaya, around Htan Pin Kone, Kyauk Ta Dar, and the Hpa Yaung Taung mining areas. These areas were among those where, during the second phase of Operation 1027 (Shan-Man Operation), the Mandalay-PDF and its allies captured around 40 junta positions. These include included the Pha Yaung Taung mining site, the Se Taw Gyi military camp, and the air defense base. Now, the junta is launching counteroffensives in those areas.
Q: Are any clashes between the advancing junta troops and resistance groups at the moment?
A: Yes, there are. It’s happening in the areas I mentioned earlier—Htan Pin Kone, Kyauktatgyi, and the Phayaungtaung mining areas. The junta retook the eastern part of Madaya late last year. After that, they’re now pushing back into the eastern areas again, engaging in attacks. Even after declaring a ceasefire following the Thingyan Festival, the junta has been advancing on the ground. They’re attacking to recapture the areas controlled by the resistance groups.
For example, Myaung Thit Kone village in the eastern part was previously under PDF control. Then, on 20 April, there was a clash, and the junta managed to temporarily seize it. However, the resistance groups fought back and managed to retake it. The junta only held it briefly before losing it again. After that, they reinforced their numbers and came back with additional support troops.
Q: We’ve seen that the junta has been conducting airstrikes before launching ground offensives. What is the situation with the airstrikes now?
A: The airstrikes are ongoing, just as reported in the news. From 1 to 19 April, airstrikes in Madaya, Singu, and Thabeikkyin killed 41 civilians and injured at least 58. Among those killed were seven underage children.
These are the junta’s inhumane acts. To retake resistance-controlled areas, the junta continues targeting civilians and dropping bombs, which have destroyed a school and over 50 homes. Even now, aircraft are circling overhead. We’re left watching, wondering when they’ll strike again. With fighting ongoing and offensives advancing, airstrikes are relentless.
Q: With the airstrikes, battles, and ground offensives, what is the situation like for the displaced local residents?
A: As I said earlier, with all these things happening, locals have had to flee. I guess there are around 10,000 displaced people, but we don’t have exact numbers yet. The junta has resorted to every means —airstrikes, dropping bombs, paramotors, and combined land, water, and air assaults in their ground operations.
Reinforcements are coming continuously from the Infantry Battalion-95 (IB-95) at the foothills of Mandalay Hill and from the Central Command in Mandalay Palace compound, sending soldiers to bolster their forces. They’ve set up outposts and reinforced their presence up to the border between Madaya and Patheingyi Townships. Phone lines are down on our side, so many people are unaware of how intense the situation has become.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
A: I don’t want them to underestimate the enemy. Even now, during a time when an earthquake has struck, the junta claims a ceasefire but continues to advance with combined land, water, and air operations to recapture lost territories.
These areas are strategically important to them, so they’re launching large-scale offensives to take them back. However, as of now, the resistance groups still maintain control over Twin Nge, and the Thabeikkyin-Singu-Madaya road section. They continue to defend these areas.
Sent by Shanni Voice.