Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has warned the locals that it plants landmines on Loiktaymain uphill road in Sallant village in Muse Township of Muse District in Shan State.
Locals said they face transportation difficulty and feel insecure as locals use that uphill road to go to the farms, according to locals.
A local woman from Sallant village said, “Because mines are planted, who dares to go there, right? I don’t dare to go to see if there is water left in paddy fields. We use the same road to cut wood and bamboo. What’s worse is I can no longer clean and pay homage to the pagoda during this Lent.”
The TNLA is stationed in Sallant village after a clash between the military council troops and the TNLA. The TNLA has informed the public that it planted landmines after landfill on Shan emperor Sao Say Khan Pha’s city wall which is an ancient heritage site, a local man said.
“Now, the TNLA soldiers are still in the village of Sallant. They are stationed next to the city wall that was thrown to the ground. Then, they informed the locals about landmines on the Loitaymain uphill road and told the villagers to report to them to use the uphill road,” he said.
In addition to the old city wall, the TNLA filled the compounds owned by the people.
According to the Geneva Convention, it is forbidden to use or destroy the places close to the civilians and villages, including schools, hospitals, religious buildings near villages, for military purposes.
Due to the military tension between the military council and the TNLA in the region, locals are worried that the war will intensify.
Sent by Shan News