September 27th, 2021
Heavy shells injured two monks and burned some monasteries and houses in a fighting between a combined force of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), near Hukwat village in Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State on September 25th.
A local who declined to be named: “Fighting took place from 6 am to 11 am. The RCSS burned five houses. But only a house was burnt down. Heavy shells hit the building of a monastery. Two monks got minor injuries in the fighting. Heavy shells destroyed the roofs of six houses in the village. Now the situation is stable.”
A local from Kyaukme Township said: “This is fighting between the combined force and the RCSS. The RCSS’s troops are stationed near the village for over one month and blocked the road. Fighting resumes this morning. This village is about a 1.5 hour-drive from Kyaukme.
The village has a tarred road. But it is impossible for villagers to flee to Kyaukme. The RCSS is stationed in Pankalaw and has blocked the road for around one month. Fighting is taking place in Ta’aung village. Fighting spread to this village after encounters in Panphat, Panlin, Pankwan and Lwallin villages. It is fighting between the combined force and the RCSS.
It is impossible for the social organization from Kyaukme to help the IDPs.
Locals said the RCSS/SSA abducted Ta’ang youths from Hukwat village. But the NMG is unable to separately confirm it. The NMG tried to contact both armed organizations to seek comments on the fighting but was unable to contact them.
The RCSS/SSA has deployed its troops near Hukwat village for nearly two months.
There is renewed fighting in Panlin village. There have been year-long military tensions between two armed organizations, according to locals.
Hukwat village which is home to Ta’ ang ethnics has nearly 400 households and more than 1,500 populations.
Sent by the NMG.