Army announces TNLA and SSPP planned mine attack in Manli Village

Army announces TNLA and SSPP planned mine attack in Manli Village
Published 1 April 2019
Min Naing Soe

The mine blast, which killed three villagers and injured four others, occurred at Manli Village, Namtu Township, northern Shan State, was plotted by allied forces of Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), according to the announcement of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services.

A total of seven villagers from the village were en route to plantation and they stepped on a mine at a place about four furlongs away from their village, in early morning of March 30. Three villagers were killed instantly and four others were injured. The injured persons were sent to Hsipaw Hospital, the announcement said.

Tai Freedom news agency, owned by the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), reported on March 30 that the mine attack was plotted by the TNLA.

Although the TNLA is operating in Manli area, the mine attack was not plotted by them. It was plotted by the RCSS, said Col. Mai Eike Kyaw, spokesperson of the TNLA.

The bodies of three villagers were cremated at Hsipaw on March 30.

Three ethnic armed groups: SSPP, TNLA and RCSS are operating in the area and clashes between allied forces of the TNLA and SSPP and RCSS occurred in the last week of February and the first week of March at Manli Village.