Burma Army Shoots an Elderly Man and Shells Artilleries Near a Village

Burma Link, June 16

According to local sources, government troops shot and killed an elderly person of over 80 years old after a deadly clash took place between Burma Army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). A 2-year-old boy and his mother were also injured by government troops.

Clashes occurred on hilly side of upper Manlwe village, Namsan Township, on June 4. Fighting reportedly broke out after Burma Army of LIB 501 and 502, totaling over 100 in number, intruded the upper Manlwe village.

The commander of TNLA reported of six casualties and many others injured from Burma Army’s side.

Local people in the area reported that other government troops, over 100 in each column, left Namkhan to Brigade 112 of TNLA in Kutkhai-Namkhan Township and to Brigade 478 of TNLA in Namkhan-Manton areas.

Burma Army shells artilleries near Lonkam village in Kutkhai Township

On June 14 at about 2 pm, Kutkhai based IB 145 and 45 Burmese soldiers intruded a TNLA controlled area and shelled artilleries close to Lonkam village in Kutkhai Township, a local source said.

The source said that the number of Burmese troops was over 150 and they were a joint-operation of IB 145 and 45 of Kutkhai based Burmese army. They shelled long-range artilleries close to the village four or five times. The shells exploded beside the village but there were no casualties. TNLA troops did not do any counter attacks and retreated from the village in order to avoid risks for the villagers.

Another clash occurred reportedly at 6 am on June 15 in Namsan Township between TNLA IB 256 and Nongcho based Burmese army IB 114 in Manlon and Panalot villages in Namsam Township.

About 50 soldiers from Nongcho based IB 114 entered into a TNLA controlled area and the fighting lasted about half an hour. A TNLA commander said that there were no casualties on either side.