The army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) clashed near Hochaung Village about seven miles away from Nansang in northern Shan State on September 13, sources said.
“The fighting occurred around 6 am and has yet to cease. We heard loud heavy gun fires and we cannot go to the town as security forces didn’t allow us to enter. Today is a full moon day and a pagoda festival is held on Lwesai Mountain. However, no one dares come out to the festival as fighting is happening,” said Ko Moe from Nyaungpinthar Village.
Many locals from Hochaung Village are running away to safer areas due to fighting and transactions in Nansang are stopped.
“The fighting occurred as the army clashed with the TNLA forces near Hochaung Village. We heard heavy gun fires and the explosion shook homes in our town,” said a local from Nansang.
The army and ethnic armed groups from northern alliance clashed in northern Shan State from August 15 and although business transactions are back to normal on Mandalay-Lashio-Muse Union Road and Lashio-Hsewi-Kunlong-Chinshwehaw-Laukkaing Road, fighting re-occurred near Nansang on September 13.
