Two shootings occurred in the town of Namlan in Thibaw Township, Kyaukme District, northern Shan State, on 7 June alone, locals report.
A woman in her fifties from Namlan said, “They came to the southern quarter to get new recruits. They fired shots in the air. People were forced to close their doors and shops because of the gunfire. The Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) members fired shots and took away three or four young men. I don’t know exactly how many of them were taken away.”
About half an hour later, around noon on 7 June, more gunshots followed after the SSPP/SSA abducted youths as new recruits at gunpoint, local residents added.
They said the second gunshot came from near Mula Kyaungyi Monastery.
“Near Mula Kyaungyi Monastery is Tabaung Park. The junta soldiers stationed there fired the shots. I heard that the station commander of Namlan himself led firing the shots. I don’t know why they fired the shots. The sound of the gunfire wasn’t very clear,” he said.
The SSPP/SSA has been prowling around downtown Namlan looking for new recruits.
Repeated calls to the SSPP/SSA for comment on the incident went unanswered.
Also, on the afternoon of 6 June, members of the ethnic army threatened people with gunfire as they roamed the downtown Muse in search of new recruits.
Sent by Shan Herald