Myanmar regime digs in as tensions grow around northern Shan State’s largest city

Junta forces closed all roads into and out of northern Shan State’s largest city over the weekend amid fears that the military is “preparing for war,” according to local residents. Moves to close off Lashio, which is also where the headquarters of the Northeastern Regional Military Command is located, began Saturday morning and left many travellers and transport vehicles stranded, a trader told Myanmar Now. “They’ve blocked every entrance and exit to and from Lashio. We used to be able to bribe our way through these road blocks, but this time it’s out of the question,” he said, noting that at least 10 trucks had been stopped outside of the city. The roads that have been closed are those linking Lashio to the towns of Namtu, Hseni (Hsenwi), and Hsipaw, and to the village of Meng Yaw, the trader said. Tensions have been high in the region since the regime carried out airstrikes in Mongmit Township, west of Lashio, on June 9, injuring several members of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and ending a ceasefire that has been in place since January. The TNLA—a member of the Brotherhood Alliance, which launched a major offensive against the junta in October of last year—has a strong presence in the Lashio area. Sources living in Lashio say that many residents have begun preparing to flee, while others who are unable to do so have been hoarding food and other necessities in anticipation of an intensification of hostilities between the two sides. Meanwhile, the military is desperately trying to bolster Lashio’s defences, the sources added. This includes deploying around 300 members of the military-backed Pyu Saw Htee militia, who have been seen at key locations all around the city. TNLA troops march in Kutkai on May 21 (Supplied) A number of new junta outposts have also been set up on hills and near pagodas around Lashio, where locals say that soldiers have fired on passers-by on a number of occasions. At least 1,000 junta troops have been sent to man these positions, as the TNLA and its ally, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), have also built up their forces in the area, according to residents. Hsipaw, which is about 55 miles southwest of Lashio, has also received some 300 junta reinforcements since the beginning of the month, the TNLA said in a statement on Saturday. The group controls the road between Lashio and Hsipaw, as well as Namtu, which lies some 40 miles west of Lashio, while Hseni, about 30 miles to the northeast, is under MNDAA control. The TNLA is also the dominant group in Kutkai, a town about 15 miles north of Hseni, although the MNDAA and the Kachin Independence Army also have a presence there, resulting in reports of tensions among them. There were concerns earlier in the year that Lashio would be the next target of the anti-regime forces, prompting many residents to leave. While a Chinese-brokered ceasefire temporarily put those fears to rest, recent tensions have revived them. In late March, clashes broke out about 10 miles southeast of Lashio, but did not lead to a collapse of the ceasefire. On June 9, however, the TNLA accused the junta of violating the agreement with its airstrikes in Mongmit. Since then, all sides appear to be increasingly on a war footing, with the military strengthening its defences as the alliance members move their troops closer to Lashio, according to sources.

Myanmar regime digs in as tensions grow around northern Shan State’s largest city

The military’s moves to bolster its defences around Lashio have many residents fearing the collapse of a ceasefire that has largely held since January

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