October 2019 Monthly Atmospheric Report

In Shan State, 20 civilians were injured and 4 killed, and in Rakhine State 25 civilians were injured, at least 8 killed, and thousands displaced. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Tatmadaw fought in Shan State, despite the Brotherhood Alliance unilateral ceasefire, resulting in civilian injuries and deaths. The conflict between the Tatmadaw and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) resumed in Kachin State. Tensions spiked in Karen State between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) over a territorial dispute. The Karen Martyr's Day Organizers were sentenced to 15 days in prison for not cooperating with authorities under the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law after organizing a peaceful march to commemorate Karen Martyr's Day in Yangon. About 30 Rohingya families, including children, were arrested on their way to Yangon and possibly Malaysia. The families were put in jail after a one-day trial at which the Rohingya were denied legal representation. Up to 7,000 Rohingya refugees agreed to relocate to Bhasan Char Island in the Bay of Bengal, but relocation has since been delayed until the UN approves the plan. The Government announced it would test a Corruption Prevention Unit toolkit on October 9, aiming to battle corruption and support government efforts to obtain feedback on critical public services. The Government and the National Ceasefire Agreement Signatories (NCA) resumed peace talks, but only plans to continue talking. The Governments of Myanmar and Thailand announced a renewed commitment to the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tanintharyi Region, a $8 billion SEZ and deep sea port that will be one of the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. The conflict hot spot map for October 2019 shows that the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Tatmadaw fought in Shan State, despite the Brotherhood Alliance unilateral ceasefire. The conflict between the Tatmadaw and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) resumed in Kachin State. Tensions spiked in Karen State between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) over a territorial dispute. The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) clashed in a territorial dispute in Ye Township, Mon State, and Kawkareik Township. The KNLA carried out two simultaneous attacks on the MNLA, resulting in the death of one MNLA soldier and two KNLA soldiers. Table 1 details the number of civilians displaced, injured, and killed in Shan State due to fighting between EAOs and the Tatmadaw. The table shows that 6 civilians were injured in Muse, 5 civilians were injured and 3 killed in Kyaukme, and 1 civilian was killed in Namhsan. The Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) fought in Mohnyin Township on October 14, resulting in no deaths but two villagers being forced to be guides for the Tatmadaw. The Kachin Independence Organization announced that it would continue to push for peace through political negotiations, despite the fighting.