Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Panse militia group fought in five places in Nantkham Township, northern Shan State on March 15 and casualties are reported.
Maj. Tar Eike Kyaw from News and Information Department of TNLA said Panse militia and No.102 Light Infantry Regiment from the army came to attack TNLA members, who came to destroy poppy fields in Panse area.
Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, Secretary of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team said the TNLA forces came to attack Panse militia and the army stood by with the Panse militia.
“A base of Panse militia located near Panse Village came under attack by the TNLA and it is about ten miles away from Nantkham. The fighting was not heavy but there were casualties in Panse militia. The army helped the Panse militia to attack back at them,” said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun.
The fighting took place in Manpan, Kyaukkontan, Panse, Tarkun, and Mongmaing villages on March 15 and more than 300 TNLA troops were deployed to attack the Panse militia, according to Panse information youth group.
Two militias were killed in the fighting and more than 700 locals were trapped in five villages, according to Panse information youth group.
“I don’t know about the fighting in details and the fighting took place in Panse base and others bases,” said Maj. Tar Eike Kyaw.
No.123 Light Infantry Regiment based in Nantphatkar fired shells to the TNLA forces, said Maj. Tar Eike Kyaw.
He added the fighting occurred as the TNLA forces went to Panse area to destroy poppy fields and Panse militias are planting poppies in the area.
“Our troops went to destroy poppy fields daily but we warned the locals in advance. We warned them not to plant poppies but they planted it every day. The fighting took place whenever we went to destroy the poppy fields,” he said.
However Panse information youth group said the TNLA attacked the villages without enough reason.
The TNLA destroyed poppy fields since 2011 and no poppy field is seen at the roadside of Mandalay-Muse road in 2017. Only poppy fields are seen in the areas and nearby places where Panse militias took control, he said.
