Clash breaks out between Tatmadaw and TNLA near Kutkai

Clash breaks out between Tatmadaw and TNLA near Kutkai
Cargo trucks and passenger buses are in a queue as a clash broke out between Tatmadaw and TNLA.
Cargo trucks and passenger buses are in a queue as a clash broke out between Tatmadaw and TNLA.
Published 14 November 2019
Tun Nay Hlaing (Naung Pein)

 

The armed men of Ta’an g National Liberation Army (TNLA) forced the cargo trucks and passenger buses running on Union Highway to stop and wait near Lwesumsit mountain at the entrance to Kutkai on Lashio-Muse Union Highway in northern Shan State on November 13.

The TNLA armed men retreated to Inmeinhokyant village tract at 2 miles distant from the south of Kutkai while a line of vehicles were in a queue. Near Inmeinhokyant village tract, the clash broke out between Tatmadaw and the TNLA.

“This morning while we were heading to Muse, all the vehicles were not moving and waiting at a time when we saw the armed men of the TNLA near Lwesumsit mountain at the entrance to Kutkai. We heard of the sound of gunshots. A moment after Tatmadaw column arrived and they also moved to the far side of the road. Clashes between Tatmadaw and the TNLA are going on in the villages,” said Ko Ye, a passenger bus driver, who is going to drive to Muse.

   The clashes prohibited all the vehicles running on Union Highway from continuing journey and they had to wait for about two hours.

Similarly, the clashes took place near Namhkhaing  bridge between Kutkai and Muse. Small and large vehicles heading to Kutkai had to wait Namtphatka for a quite long time.

“The TNLA was collecting extortion money from the vehicles heading to Lashio near Shukhintha and they turned back from Namtphatka where cargo trucks and passenger buses were waiting. All the vehicles were stranded in Namtphatlun. The vehicles from Kutkai can’t come yet,” said a Muse-Lashio driver.

The toll gate of Kutkai was temporarily closed and all the vehicles were waiting since about 7 am, said an official of Kutkai toll gate.   

Translated and Edited by Win Htut