Over 500 displaced by latest Shan State hostilities



YANGON: -- Hundreds displaced by fighting in northern Shan State arrived this week to Nam Pa Kar village in Kutkai Township amid ongoing regional hostilities between the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Myanmar Army, The Irrawaddy reported.

According to a Lashio-based group providing food supplies to the affected. the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are ethnic Palaung from Ngegge village, also in Kutkai Township, where fighting that began Tuesday forced them to flee their homes.

De De Poe Jaing, joint general secretary No. 2 of the Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO), estimated more than 500 people had fled to Nam Pa Kar, where they are sheltering at an events hall.

Another civil society group, the Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO), has sent some of its members to Mong Yu village, where some civilians are believed to have been pinned down by recent hostilities.

The TNLA has said thousands of government tropps had been deployed to the conflict zone, a territory that spans several townships in northern Shan State including Kyaukme, Kutkai, Namtu, Manton, Namhsan and Mongmit.

Intense fighting continued on Thursday in Kyaukme and Mangton townships, where the TNLA claimed a government offensive included two helicopter gunships in the village of Kyauk Phyu, part of Kyaukme Township.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/154926


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-14

Tragic.

Tragic.

You got it in one word... Hopefully the upcoming elections will cut down on this type of things, but I won't be holding my breath.

The army will still retain too much power.