Security forces are regained control of Hsihsengarea from the hand of the combined forces of Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) and Karenni People's Defence Force (KPDF) and are carrying out restoration activities, announced the information team of the State Administration Council (SAC).
The PNLO that aims to influence the Pa-O ethnic villages in the Menal Mountain area in Hopong Township, including Hsihseng town in southern Shan State, together with the KNPP, KNDF and the PDF, in order to disrupt the peace and stability of the region, entered to the villages in the guise of villagers from February 16 and attacked Tatmadaw bases and the headquarters of the security forces in some areas, burnt down houses in the villages, killed people with weapons and looted the properties owned by the locals. They clashed with the security forces and the locals were forced to leave their homes temporarily and live in safe places, it said.
The security operations necessary for the peace and stability of these areas are carried out by local military personnel, militias, and locals worked together for 32 days to restore stability and peace, so the locals who temporarily left their homes are resettled in their respective villages and the cities and villages that were destroyed by armed groups, are being assisted in restoration activities and joint cleaning activities with the locals. The relevant officials are providing supplies and grants, it said.
On March 29, residential area, religious buildings and important places such as health and education in Hsihseng town that was destroyed by the insurgents are restored by local military personnel, members of the Myanmar police force, departmental staff, militias, and locals. Restoration activities and joint cleaning activities are being carried out with the local. General Naing Naing Oo from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services (Army), the Commander and officials of the Eastern Command visited and encouraged and coordinated the necessary actions, according to the announcement.
As the PNLO group was directly involved in arms smuggling, the security forces seized 499 Type-81 type guns, 498 magazines and accessories on a vehicle driving towards Pinpyat Village, Yaksawk Township on December 17, 2023, and when the security forces found 504 various guns, 10 RPGs, six 107 MM homemade rockets and some munitions, which were destroyed by the PNLO, on five vehicles in San Phu Village on January 20, 2024, according to the announcement.
Regarding the above events, the PNLO accused the villagers in the areas inhabited by Pa-O ethnic groups of being informers of their arms smuggling and repeatedly set fire to the villages intending to build power and for the administration in the region, which is incited by the NUG, KNPP, KNDF and KPDF. From February 21, they attacked security bases along Union Road in the Pa-O autonomous region in southern Shan State in order to disrupt the stability and peace and to block Union Road, which is the main communication route in the region, and the security forces have carried out area enforcement activities.
After 16 clashes with these groups, the security forces were able to fully regain control along Union Road on February 29, and the vehicles and trucks that were temporarily stopped on March 1 were able to move normally. In these events, under the administration of the Pa-O Autonomous Regional Government, they were able to defeat the insurgents in such a short period of time due to the cooperation of almost all the villagers from every Pa-O ethnic village with the security forces and militias, announced the SAC.
Despite signing the NCA, with the fantasy of being able to build power on the flattery of other non-local armed groups, the Pa-O ethnic groups from the villages around Hsihseng town gathered their forces almost completely by cooperation with the Tatmadaw and militias to attack the PNLO from February 27 as they could no longer tolerate the actions of the PNLO, and they controlled Hoche Monastery and hospital on February 28, the hospital staff housing and the police station on March 2, Mueto Pagoda Hill on March 13, San Phu Village on March 18, Kyaukcha on March 19, and the intersection of Bayarphyu on March 25 and regain control of Hsihseng town, announced the SAC.
The security forces found some corpses, weapons, ammunition and accessories and some soldiers, militia members and locals were injured. They regained control of Hsihseng area from the hand of the combined forces of the PNLO, KNDF and KPDF and the restoration work was successfully carried out because the locals willingly risked their lives and cooperated with the Tatmadaw and militias for the benefit of the region, according to the SAC.
