In the more than two months since Operation 1027, people in 16 townships in northern Shan State have suffered numerous human rights violations, according to the Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO).
Over the two-month period, fierce fighting took place between the Myanmar Army and the Three Brotherhood Alliance in the northern Shan State’s 16 townships including Pang Hseng, Monekoe, Muse, Namhkam, Kutkai, Kunlong, Laukkai, Theinni, Thibaw, Namtu, Tangyan, Lashio, Namhsan, Mantong, Kyaukme, and Naungcho. According to the TWO records, numerous human rights violations took place in these areas.
According to TWO records, civilian homes, religious buildings, hospitals and clinics, schools, and halls, as well as roads and bridges were damaged or destroyed.
In addition, 28 children were killed and 47 injured in the fighting, while 36 women were killed and 77 injured. Similarly, 45 men were killed and 73 injured, bringing the total to 123 killed and 239 injured.
Commenting on the situation on the ground, a TWO official said: “Right now, the bridges in most of the towns are destroyed. Everyone has to rely on dirt roads. Since the highway is impassable, it’s particularly difficult to help the displaced people. In the past, when we still had access to the internet, our organization used to transfer money via KPay. Now that the telephone lines are down in many areas, this is very difficult. The situation is also very difficult in Namhkam and Muse. The telephone lines are also down in Kutkai and Theinni. Under these circumstances, it’s very difficult to help the displaced people.”
The main causes of casualties are artillery attacks, aerial bombardments, and landmine explosions, according to a TWO statement in the last week of December 2023.
Since November, after the start of Operation 1027, not only had airstrikes increased, but the planes had also fired on villages without any ground fighting, the TWO official continued.
“Since November, the use of airstrikes has greatly increased. The frequency has increased sharply. For example, two villages near Namhsan were bombed without any ground fighting. As a result, people were killed and hospitals and houses were destroyed. Some sleeping children were killed. Some people lost their lives before they had finished digging their bomb shelters. Mothers and children were among those killed. Now whole villages have fled in all directions for fear of the planes. Everyone is very frightened,” said the official.
In addition, on 29 December 2023 at around 3:30 pm, military council’s fighter jets bombed the Buddhist monastery in Man Li village in Chaung Sar village tract, Namtu Township, without any ground fighting. A teacher from a Ta’ang National Education Committee (TNEC) school who worked in Man Li village was killed in the attack.
Over the course of two months since Operation 1027 in northern Shan State, 73 Myanmar Army bases and outposts and five towns – Namhkam, Namhsan, Mantong, Namtu and Monglon – have been captured, according to the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA).
The commander-in-chief of the TNLA himself inspected military bases and outposts as well as frontline combat zones in towns captured by the TNLA during Operation 1027, the ethnic army stated on the 29 December evening.
Sent by NMG.