Previously in my article on how to know if the Myanmar military is losing, I stated inter alia that, losing the regional command centres would be a canary in the coal mine. Regrettably it happened and now the rebels and the terrorist forces have significantly more territories under their control than a year ago.
I don’t want to be a wet blanket to those who are hoping for the Tatmadaw to recover the lost ground. The writing is already on the wall when these regional command centres fell. It surely is a bitter pill to swallow in the history of Tatmadaw.
Until the first week of January 2025, Yangon – Nay Pyi Taw expressway seems to be a sanctuary and out of harm’s way for civil servants and other travellers plying this route. They neither have to hide their identities nor dress differently. They need not be in fear of being identified as civil servants and get kidnapped or killed. That all changed on the January 11 when PDF terrorists came up to 110 mile marker, along the highway, trying to do the same thing that they did along Nay Pyi Taw – Mandalay expressway last month. Security forces nearby quickly arrived before they can terrorise and start blackmailing the travellers and civilians. Things did not end there. On January 14 early morning, another group of terrorists tried the same trick again, attempting the same terrorist propaganda show on the freeway near Thar Ga Ya at 170 mile marker. This time security forces were closer and fired the some artillery at the upcoming terror brigade. The terrorists quickly
retreated into dense woods and villages in between.
There is no denying that NNCP terrorists become more emboldened as the fake news media spread numerous successful campaigns by the EAOs and rebel forces, on the northern and western fronts. This salient might be one of the series of rebels’ swan songs but unsuccessful it might be, the victory on the Tatmataw side may turn out to be a
pyrrhic one eventually.
After these events, even some ministers chickened out and travelled with all this entourage by plane to Yangon, instead of the usual land route.
On the individual front, I would urge people, especially civil servants and media personnel, to be doubly cautious and take extra precautions when travelling along the Yangon – Nay Pyi Taw expressway now. Better be safe than sorry. You will thank me later.
