Civilians in northern Shan State given lengthy prison terms for alleged TNLA links

Myanmar’s military regime has sentenced several people accused of ties to the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to lengthy prison terms since retaking key towns in northern Shan State from the group last year, according to local sources. Hla Moe, a former National League for Democracy candidate who was arrested shortly after Kyaukme fell to junta forces last October, was sentenced last month to 20 years in prison, a resident of the town told Myanmar Now. “We only recently found out about Hla Moe’s 20-year sentence. Another person was also jailed, but we don’t know for how long,” the source said. Kyaukme, which was captured by the TNLA in August 2024 as part of Operation 1027, was retaken by the regime last year after months of fighting, along with several other towns. Ethnic Ta’ang residents of Kyaukme say they now face strict controls at military checkpoints whenever they enter or leave the town. In Hsipaw, about 20 miles east of Kyaukme, at least four people have been handed prison sentences, according to local residents. One of them, a man identified as Htwe Nge, was handed a life sentence, while the other three were each sentenced to seven years behind bars, a Hsipaw resident said. People close to the detainees said they did not know the specific charges that had been laid against them. It was also unclear where they are currently being held. Meanwhile, residents said the arrests in Hsipaw are continuing. “Anyone the military doesn’t like gets picked up. Some people are released if money is paid. Others get charged under all kinds of laws. They do whatever they want,” a Hsipaw resident said. Hsipaw was captured by the TNLA in October 2024 and retaken by the military almost exactly a year later. This came just months after the regime retook Nawnghkio, a strategic town near the border with Mandalay Region, in July of last year—a full year after it was seized by the TNLA and allied forces. The military arrested at least 20 people in Nawnghkio after returning to the town, and also sealed off dozens of buildings, including homes, businesses, and religious structures, over suspicions that their owners had cooperated with the TNLA. It could not be confirmed at the time of reporting if any of the detained Nawnghkio residents were among those who have recently been handed prison sentences. A party taking part in the third phase of the junta’s elections holds a campaign event in Hsipaw Township on January 18 (Photo: Sai Kaung Thet San / Facebook) Final phase of elections Both Kyaukme and Hsipaw will be included in polling slated to take place on January 25, in the third and final phase of junta-orchestrated elections that began late last month. Other major urban areas in northern Shan State, including Lashio and the China border town of Muse, took part in earlier rounds of voting. Lashio, the region’s largest city, was under the control of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, a TNLA ally, until April of last year. Voting in Kyaukme and Hsipaw townships will only take place in areas under regime control, according to political parties based in the area. In Kyaukme, this includes all nine of the town’s urban wards, but only five of the township’s 70 village tracts, the parties said. In Hsipaw, voting will be limited to the town’s 11 wards and 17 of the township’s 67 village tracts. Residents of both towns said local administrators and party representatives have been using loudspeakers and door-to-door visits to encourage people to cast advance votes. The Union Solidarity and Development Party, a junta proxy, won in the first and second phases of the elections in recaptured towns across northern Shan State, including Lashio, Muse, Mongyai and Tangyan, according to official results. Several towns still under the TNLA’s administration remain outside the junta’s control, making it impossible for elections to be held there, residents said.

Civilians in northern Shan State given lengthy prison terms for alleged TNLA links

The junta has targeted locals suspected of ties to the Ta’ang armed group since retaking key towns in northern Shan State last year

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