NUG defence minister Yee Mon said that forces under its command have announced an “all roads to Naypyitaw” operation intent on eventually overrunning the junta capital in their efforts to drive out the military.
This comes as fearing such an operation, the military has reportedly set up additional outposts in the mountains around Naypyitaw in early November in an effort to prevent resistance forces from infiltrating the military-controlled capital in the Bago Yoma mountain range in Lewe and Pyinmana townships as per Myanmar Now.
Four checkpoints on roads leading to the Bago and Shan Yoma ranges, each manned by between five and 10 armed troops have been placed. Two Light Infantry Battalions—604 and 605—were stationed in Nay Pyi Taw.
A general reduction in the military posts is also evident as a number of posts have been consolidated to make up for the heavy losses suffered and redeployment of troops in the North East.
Maung Maung Swe, the publicly mandated National Unity Government (NUG)’s deputy secretary for the Ministry of Defence, told Myanmar Now that the military’s personnel shortage likely meant that bases were being consolidated.
Protection of high-ranking officers and junta officials has also been increased.
“After the town occupation battles, people living in Naypyitaw are worried and afraid,” one civil servant told Myanmar Now. “Their strategy is to fortify Naypyitaw at all costs, even if it means sacrificing the lives of their soldiers and the people. They will defend Naypyitaw until the end.”
Naypyitaw borders southern Shan State to the east, Magway Region to the west, Mandalay to the north and Bago Region and Karen State to the south. NUG defence minister Yee Mon said that forces under its command have announced an “all roads to Naypyitaw” operation intent on eventually overrunning the junta capital in their efforts to drive out the military.
The fall of the national capital will result in the regime collapse and would have to be avoided at all costs in case of survival of the military in Myanmar.
While the ethnic armed organizations and other anti-military groups have been able to secure a series of areas in the North West and East and in the southeast, it is unclear if they still have the capability to launch coordinated attack on the national capital.
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