Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has told Kachin Independence Organization/ Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) in Nam Um village in the upper part of Namphatkar in Muse Township in northern Shan State, to leave by 25 April, according to officials of the KIO.
On 21 April, the TNLA sent a letter to members of the KIA.
A KIO official in Nam Um village said, “We have captured it and are stationed here, on orders from above.”
Locals said the place where the KIO/KIA is stationed is the old fuel station owned by the leader of the militia force. It is beside Muse-Namphatkar in Nam Um village.
The KIA was stationed there after the capture of Namphatkar village. Currently, the KIA has opened a security outpost and an office there.
In the past, the TNLA sent the letter. Now the TNLA again sent a letter at the request of the fuel owner, the KIO official said.
A local man from Nam Um said: “The KIO is currently stationed in the fuel station owned by the leader of the militia. This fuel station is beside Muse-Namphatkar road in Nam aum village where currently the KIO/KIA is stationed. It has a large compound. The KIO is being forced to leave this place as the house and building have already existed. Tension remains high as the KIO doesn’t leave the facility.
Before that day, the TNLA put pressure, according to locals.
The disputes arose after the TNLA had taken position next to the KIA’s posts along Namhpatkar- Hkomone – Namaum- Dima along the villages between Kutkai and Muse, locals said.
The residents said that they do not want any armed forces to take positions in the village boundaries.
Regarding the TNLA’s pressure on the KIO/KIA in Nam Um to leave, the PSLF/TNLA Spokesperson said he did not get the information about it.
On 10 April, the TNLA told the KIA to leave its office in Kutkai. Lway Yay Oo, the Spokesperson of the PSLF/TNLA said this matter had been resolved.
Locals said they are concerned about the problems between the ground forces of armed groups in northern Shan State.
Sent by KNG.
