According to local sources in Lashio in northern Shan State, only locals with the 13/La Ya Na (National Registration Card) are allowed to enter the city.
Following the outbreak of fighting between the military junta troops and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA-Kokang Army) in Lashio in northern Shan State, residents fled to nearby towns and relatives. On 3 August, the MNDAA troops fully captured the town.
Currently, the Kokang troops are carrying out checks in Lashio and only locals with the NRC 13/La Ya Na (Naing) are allowed to enter the town, according to a local from Lashio.
“At the moment, people can move around freely. But if the Kokang soldiers ask you to stop, you have to do so. They’ll probably ask you where you’re going and so on. If you can answer, they’ll let you go. To enter Lashio, your ID card must be from Lashio. If you don’t have a Lashio ID, you can’t enter,” the man said.
Currently, fighting in Lashio has stopped and people can move freely in Wards 3, 4 and 5 of Lashio, he continued.
In addition, the Kokang troops, along with some remaining residents, are cremating the bodies of those killed in the fighting and cleaning up the town, the Lashio resident said.
“Especially on the main streets. We’ve also seen bodies. When they find bodies, they clear them away. They haven’t actively searched for bodies to remove them yet. The bodies lying on the streets are covered with sand, wrapped in car tires and burned. Now nobody dares to go and bury the bodies. If they don’t find bodies in houses or compounds, they don’t collect them,” he said.
Some of the remaining residents of Lashio are worried about possible airstrikes. Those who have fled to other towns are also afraid to return home, the Lashio resident added.
“We’re only afraid of airplanes. And what we fear most is if (the junta) comes and attacks with bombs when people are sleeping at night. At the moment, people don’t dare to come back. They aren’t coming back yet because they’re afraid and worried about possible airstrikes,” he said.
Currently, both military junta and MNDAA troops are present in Lashio, and over 600 prisoners are reportedly still in Lashio prison.
During the full capture of the Northeast Regional Military Command (RMC) in Lashio on 3 August, over 4,700 soldiers and family members reportedly surrendered with white flags, and the MNDAA claims to have captured three high-ranking military officers.
Locals report that there were casualties in the fighting in Lashio, with numerous bodies in the city remain uncollected.
From 25 June to 31 July, over 130 civilians were reportedly killed and more than 170 injured during the second phase of “Operation 1027” in northern Shan State.
Sent by Shan News.