The insurgents of the Ta,ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) launched an organized severe attack on six places—Defence Services Technological Academy (DSTA) in PyinOoLwin, PyinOoLwin toll gate, Goattwin police outpost in Nawnghkio, Nawnghkio toll gate, the narcotic drug inspection gate and a local battalion—with the use of rocket launcher with the use of shot circuit in a synchronized way at about 5.30 am on August 15, killing seven Tatmadawmen, three police and two civilians and that the clashes are still going on, the Office of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services reported on August 15 afternoon.

The earlier report of Office of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services revealed that a Tatmadawman sustained an injury and a government civil servant was dead in the attack launched by three members of Northern Alliance.

The insurgents from the combined ethnic armed groups of the Northern Alliance launched a series of attack on the DSTA with 107 MM rocket launchers, the Asia World toll gate and anti-drug inspection gate with RPG launcher and Goattwin police outpost in Nawnghkio, Nawnghkio toll gate and a local battalion all at once early morning of August 15 and that the government military forces fought back the ethic armed fighters. No sooner had the attack occurred than Tatmadaw military columns sent in reinforcements at Goattwin police outpost and Nawnghkio and Asia World toll gates, according to report of the Office of C-in-C of Defence Services.

The battery, six type 63 107 mm rocket launchers connecting with wires, the sites that are prepared for firing rocket launchers with the use of shot circuit and another battery were discovered on the hill in the east of PyinOoLwin-Lashio road, in the east of the DSTA while Tatmadaw military columns were carrying out clearance operation. The clashes between Tatmadaw and the combined ethnic armed groups are still going on in Nawnghkio anti-narcotic inspection gate and Goattwin police outpost. If the detailed information is acquired, it will be reported, according to the report of the Office of C-in-C of Defence Services.

Tatmadaw seized narcotic drug worth of over K 16 billion, narcotic drug manufacturing machine and its related items, and the opium producing site in and round Chaungson, in the south-east of Shaukhaw village in Kutkai in Shan State on July 15, and narcotic drug worth of about K 5 billion, arms and ammunitions and related items in Yetkhontai village, Yathedaung township in Rakhine State on August 8. The act of the Tatmadaw made the insurgents angry. In Rakhine State, the AA insurgents are suffering heavy casualties and that they are being militarily defeated. For these reasons, the insurgents of the AA, the TNLA and the MNDAA are committing terrorist attacks, encroaching upon the prevalence of law and order, the military report said.

Tatmadaw will continue serving military duties as required for the reason that the insurgents of the AA, the TNLA and the MNDAA went against the para-7 of statement on ceasefire and eternal peace issued on December 21 in 2018 and the para-7 stated that “They are also responsibility for the smooth and safe transportation and the lives and properties of the people, according to the military report.

The official report of the Ministry of Information indicated that the severe attacks organized by the AA, the TNLA and the MNDAA on Defence Services Technological Academy (DSTA) in PyinOoLwin, PyinOoLwin toll gate, Goattwin police outpost in Nawnghkio, Nawnghkio toll gate, the narcotic drug inspection gate and a local battalion killed two civilians and three policemen and injuring ten civilians and two policemen. The police force lost 17 weapons, six magazines, 1312 bullets, a narcotic drug detector and a chemical detector four Walkie Talkies. Four vehicles were destroyed.

It was alleged that the number of insurgents was more than 50 launching an attack on the anti-narcotic drug inspection gate and the organized attack occurred at 5.30 am on August 15, said an officer from Nawnghkio anti-drug squad.

“There were more than 50 insurgents launching attacks here and it might be about half past five. They fired heavy weapons, injuring about 6 members of ours. There were no deaths. Some sustained injuries on the legs due to the heavy weapons. Some vehicles were fired in the office building. It was the TNLA,” said the officer from Nawnghkio anti-drug squad.

During the attack, the driver who was driving a truck was dead on the spot on Goattwin road, said some drivers at the scene.

The armed insurgents of TNLA attacked Goattwin police outpost in Nawnghkio Township, killing seven Tatmadawmen and three policemen, according to the witnesses.

At present, the clashes between Tatmadaw and the TNLA are still going on in Nawnghkio Township and Kyaukme District and that movements of people have not been found going from one place to another in Nawnghkio Township and several houses, and government offices have been shut down.   

Translated and Edited by Win Htut