Myanmar Army Retakes Demoso Amid Rising Civilian Toll

CINCDS

Myanmar’s military has reclaimed the strategic town of Demoso in eastern Kayah state after nearly two years under resistance control, marking a significant shift in the country’s ongoing civil conflict. The recapture follows a 16-day offensive involving ground assaults and airstrikes, as the junta intensifies efforts to regain territory ahead of elections slated for 28 December.

Demoso, located roughly 110 kilometres east of Naypyitaw, had been held by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and allied groups since November 2023. Its fall signals a tactical victory for the military, which has struggled to contain resistance movements since seizing power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021.

State media reported the seizure of six bodies and five weapons, alongside casualties among government forces. Photos published show soldiers posing outside key civic buildings, including the hospital and town hall.

However, resistance groups have accused the military of grave abuses during the campaign. In a statement, the KNDF alleged unlawful arrests, indiscriminate killings, and the use of civilians as human shields. These claims follow reports of a deadly airstrike on a hospital in Mawchi, south of Demoso, which reportedly killed 32 civilians and left several missing.

Further north, in Mogok—a town central to Myanmar’s gem trade—another airstrike last week reportedly killed 21 people, underscoring the escalating human cost of the conflict.

Kayah state, home to the Karenni ethnic minority, remains one of the most volatile regions in Myanmar’s fractured landscape. While the military insists its operations target “terrorist” elements, independent observers warn of mounting civilian casualties and deepening humanitarian crises.

As the December elections approach, the battle for control—both territorial and political—is intensifying. Demoso’s fall may be a tactical gain, but the broader war continues to exact a devastating toll on Myanmar’s people.

-2025-08-21