The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) has banned members of the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) equipped with military uniforms and weapons from entering Pang Hseng (Kyu Koke) town in Muse Township, Shan State, according to locals.
The MNDAA convened a meeting with Pang Hseng (Kyu Koke) residents at around 9:30 am on 11 February and ordered five key points, – including that SSPP and KIA soldiers in military uniforms and armed will not be allowed to enter the town, according to Pang Hseng residents.
“KIA and SSPP soldiers can still enter the town if they are in civilian clothes. However, they said they will take action if they come armed and in military uniform. They also instructed residents of the town who possess firearms to hand them over as soon as possible, and if they are found in possession of firearms during a house-to-house search, they will be severely punished,” said a Pang Hseng resident close to a person who attended the meeting.
The five main points ordered by the MNDAA during the meeting are: (1) participants at the meeting must not record the movements of MNDAA soldiers and post them on the Internet; (2) they must not allow uniformed and armed KIA and SSPP soldiers into the town; (3) they must hand over the firearms in their possession as soon as possible; (4) one person per household must serve in the Kokang army; and (5) they must perform guard duties at the entrances and exits of the town and administrative offices, according to Pang Hseng residents.
“In the past, we had to cook for them. Now, if we refuse, we have to pay 100 Chinese yuan, which is about 50,000 in Myanmar kyat. We also have to guard four posts – three exit and entry points of the town and an administration office. Three people have to take turns, said the local man from Pang Hseng.
Calls to the respective spokespersons, Li Kyarwen of the MNDAA, Colonel Naw Bu of the KIA and Spokesperson Naw Bu of the KIA and Sai Phone Han of the SSPP/SSA, for comment on the MNDAA’s announcement went unanswered.
A local woman from Pang Hseng said, “Since they have ordered one person per household, everyone who is at home will have to serve, leaving all their work behind. Some people are worried and don’t want to go to fight in the battles. But they can’t refuse the order. As they no longer have anyone to rely on, they can only helplessly follow the orders.”
According to locals, the MNDAA called the meeting ordering residents to deny uniformed and armed SSPP and KIA soldiers entry into the town after some SSPP soldiers inspected the Pang Hseng Myoma market in early February.
As part of “Operation 1027”, the MNDAA took control of Pang Hseng (Kyu Koke) in Muse Township on 2 November last year. However, according to local sources, KIA and SSPP/SSA troops are still present in the area.
Sent by Shan News.