The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) has hoisted Myanmar national flag in addition to their own one and Special Region (1) flag in Lashio city, according to some residents of Lashio on social networks.

Northern alliances, including the MNDAA, have been fighting in northern Shan State and raising their own flags, removing the Myanmar national flag as they seize towns.

During the first phase of the Operation 1027, when the MNDAA attacked and took over cities such as Laukkai, Chinshwehaw, Kyu Kok, Hsenwi and Kunlong, Myanmar national flags were taken down, and some video files of some MNDAA members demeaning the Myanmar flag were also circulated on social networks and received criticism.

However, during the second phase of the Operation 1027, the MNDAA attacked and seized Lashio, which is not part of the Kokang region, and took down the Myanmar national flag and added Lashio to the Special Region (1), which was designated as the Kokang region during the previous military government. The MNDAA hoisted special region (1) flag and their flag and administrative activities are underway.

On the other hand, some of the supporters of the military have written to demand that the army to retake Lashio city and prevent the residents of Lashio from returning to their homes. It has been reported that there had been aerial reconnaissance in Lashio by the Tatmadaw in the past few days.

There is a series of news reports showing how the administration is operating with pictures of MNDAA repairing power grid in Lashio city, pictures of the market being sold, pictures of medical treatment in Lashio Hospital, and now the flag of Myanmar is being hoisted again, and it is not clear why it was hoisted.

A member of the MNDAA wrote on social media that the Myanmar flag was raised and that the airstrikes is depended on luck.

 At present, most of the residents of Lashio have not been able to return to their homes.

A refugee who has not yet been able to return to Lashio said, “I think that the Kokang people are continuously organizing for the residents to return. I don't see any official commitment between the government and them. I can't say that there are no aerial attacks, and most of the locals don't dare to return. Only those who did not leave the city and those who fled nearby returned. There are vendors but they are not selling at market. They are selling their goods on the roadside near Ward (5) market and Mansu market. It's not like they are opening a shop and selling. There are cases where the Kokang forces told people who sell their goods next to the Mansu market to sell in the market. Some stores have reopened.”

Lashio city is the main administrative city of northern Shan State where the state-level offices of Shan State are located. Only Shan, Burmese and Kachin people live the most, while the Kokang people live only around 20 percent, and most of the Kokang people live in villages in Lashio.

In addition, only 15 percent of Palaung people live in Kyaukme and Hsipaw townships, while only Shan, Burmese and Danu people live the most in Naungcho Township, and the percentage ratio of Palaung people in Naungcho Township is only about one percent.

A delegation led by Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Nay Pyi Taw on August 14, and about 10 days after the visit, the Chinese side closed some of the border gates in the Wa region, which is connected to the area controlled by the MNDAA.

Currently, China has not blocked entry and exit gates in Pansan, the main areas of the Wa region, and it is reported that China has closed some of the Chinese border gates in the area controlled by the Wa, which is bordering the area of ​​ Chinshwehaw, which is controlled by the MNDAA.

A military analyst said that the closing of such a gate could be China putting pressure on the MNDAA rather than putting pressure on the Wa.

In addition, during the attack by the MNDAA in Lashio city, there were cases where the border gates in the Kokang area were closed by the Chinese side, and it has not yet been independently confirmed whether they have been reopened or not.

During the attack by the MNDAA in Lashio city, Wa forces arrived in Lashio city, and it is not known whether Wa participated in the fighting or not, but until now, Wa forces are seen in Lashio city.

It can be said that MNDAA's raising the Myanmar national flag in Lashio is similar to the Wa and Mongla. Although the Wa and Mongla have been under separate governance for 30 years after a ceasefire with the Tatmadaw, they are using the flags of Myanmar as well as their group's flags.