An interview with a 27-year-old woman from Lechar about the military tension between the military council and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) in Lechar Township.
On 6 August, there was an intense fighting between the military council troops and the Shan State Progressive Party/ Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) in Lechar Township in Loilem District in Shan State.
More than 10 military council soldiers were killed and two soldiers arrested alive and a vehicle and military weapons seized in the battle, according to the statement by the SSPP/SSA.
Locals are concerned as the military tension continues in Lechar Township despite the fighting coming to an end.
The Shan News interviewed a 27-year-old woman from Lechar Township about what the local people are worried about and the current ground condition due to the military tension between the military council troops and the SSPP/SSA.
Q: Please tell me about the current ground conditions in Lechar Township.
A: Currently, the military council troops and the Pa-O National Army (PNA) are stationed in Manpone village. Soldiers are monitoring the outgoing and incoming people in the village. They step up inspections of the people. The SSPP/SSA are stationed in the front of Namtain creek. The military council troops, the PNA and the people’s militia are stationed in the west of Namtain creek. Both groups are demarcated by Namtain creek. It is very difficult for the people of the village to go to the city. The soldiers wait and inspect the people. The people are hardly allowed to cross the gate.
Q: Tell me about the clashes between the armed forces that took place in Lechar Township.
A: The battle started in Macklan village. The military council fired heavy weapons to the SSPP from the west of the creek as the SSPP is stationed in the front of Namtain creek. The SSPP withdrew by fighting back while the military council army withdrew and arrived here. Ever since that battle, the people from our village (Manpone village) have not been allowed to flee. Since that battle, we are not allowed to go outside the village.
Q: How do you feel as a local when the battle occurs? What is your fear?
A: Transportation is difficult due to fighting. Soldiers don’t allow some people who want to go to their work. At this time, we have to check the water in the paddy fields and add fertilizer. If the soldiers enter the village and take security measures and do not ban the movement of people, locals can do their work freely. The movement of the people will also be convenient. Some families have to borrow money from others to buy food. Another concern is that the fighting may intensify as soldiers are entering the village. In the battle that took place on 6 August, young people like us were scared because we heard the sound of heavy weapons. How scared the elderly and underage children are. Until now, they got sick due to the heavy shells fired by the military council. Some adults suffer hypertension.
Q: In which village does the military tension remain?
A: I don’t know the situation in front of Namtain creek stationed by the SSPP/SSA. The place like Manpone village where the military council troops are stationed in the west of Namtain creek is a bit far from the place the SSPP is stationed. However, most of the people from the villages like Panhlyan, Haihsaing and Matlan have fled to the city. The Pa-O army and the military council army have already been stationed in Manpone village.
Q: Where are the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) taking shelter? How do they themselves arrange their livelihood?
A: They are taking shelter in monasteries and rest houses in the city. Some people are taking refuge at the houses of their relatives and friends. I don’t know the exact number of displaced populations. I also heard that there is a group from the city that helps them get food and water.
Q: As fighting and military tension have been going on for a long period of time, what would you like to say as a local?
A: The difficulty is the availability of food and unemployment. The more the military tension, the more days of unemployment. Some families are daily earners. Even those who have a certain amount of money will have to spend all of their savings as the military tension is going on. As I said before, some families have to borrow rice, edible oil and salt from others. It will be best if soldiers don’t approach the village if possible. If so, the damage to the village will be less if it is a battle.
Q: Fighting is taking place between two Shan armed groups in addition to the fighting between Shan armed groups and the military council in Lechar Township. As a local young woman, May I know your view on it?
A: In my view, there should be no fighting between the Shan armed groups. The commodity prices have gone up as a result of the military coup and the Covid pandemic. At a time when life is difficult for the grassroots. If there is another fight, it will be even more difficult for them. The people who previously had to flee the battle between the two Shan armed groups now have to flee again due to the battle between the military council and the Shan army. Some people have fled even abroad. There are no youths left in the villages. They fled to Thailand and Tachilek. That’s why I want to say that before the outflow of all these human resources, we want our area to remain peaceful without fighting.
Q: What kind of difficulties are there for the young people to survive when this kind of battle occurs in the region?
A: Many young people flee abroad for fear of military service. Now, adults have to perform the tasks that the young people have to do. For instance, the adults have to do ploughing and carry rice bags as some houses have no youths.
Q: Some of the armed forces who are fighting against the military dictatorship have called on two Shan armed forces to fight against the dictatorship. May I know your view on it as a Shan youth?
A: It should be. Because our daily difficult life situation is a part of the military coup. In fact, we don’t want any dictatorship. Nobody wants it. Therefore, the fight against the dictatorship should be.
Q: As a young person, what is the future of Shan State you want to be like?
A: As for me, I want to see the development and peace in our Shan State. The people will be okay if transportation and economy is convenient. I hope to be able to live freely without worrying about security anymore.
Sent by Shan News