The military council has blocked the road by digging a trench on Hsipaw-Namtu road near Kun San Leik village in Hsipaw Township in Shan State, according to local residents.
At 3 pm on 12 June, the military cut off the road by digging a trench on Hsipaw-Namtu road between Pangnay village and Kun San Leik village in Hsipaw, causing the road blockage. Locals expressed their concern that this action might lead to a resumption of fighting.
“Initially, soldiers of the military council dug the trench by hand, and later used machinery to complete it. The military council forces had already stationed near Pangnay village before this incident occurred. They dug the ditch between Pangnay and Kun San Leik villages. The trench is as deep as a person’s height. They dug a wide trench like a trench near their camp,” said a local woman from Hsipaw Township.
Locals have to use nearby fields for passage as the military has dug the trench on the Hsipaw-Namtu road between Pangnay village and Kunsanleik village in Moetay village-tract. They are worried about food shortages.
“They said that they will do it again in the villages. People rushed to village grocery stores in the village, fearing an imminent war, which caused prices to increase. Local residents were forced to evacuate the village when the junta conducted airstrikes. It has been approximately four months since they were able to return home,” said a local man from Kunsanleik village in Hsipaw Township.
Locals are worried about the resumption of fighting, and they are unable to flee to the town as the military council troops dug a trench and blocked the road on the Hsipaw-Namtu road, where they can go to the towns of Namtu and Namhsan, which are occupied and controlled by the TNLA.
A local man said, “Now I have to pack my clothes and listen to the news. Everyone is saying that there could be another conflict soon, so stay alert. We are unable to escape to the town because of the ditch blocking the road. We may have to flee to forests. Everybody here is concerned about the fighting.”
On 29 December 2023, at least six locals, along with cows and buffaloes, were injured when soldiers of the military council planted landmines beside the road following the bombing of Moetay bridge on the Hsipaw-Namtu road.
Local residents from Lashio reported that on the evening of 12 June, many cars were stranded on the road in Kawnghuong village, Mongyaw station in Lashio Township. This was due to the military blocking the road by digging a trench.
Sent by Shan News