By Myat Moe Thu / The Myanmar Times | October 31, 2018

The number of evacuees doubled overnight on the outskirts of Lashio Township in northern Shan State as fighting between two ethnic groups intensified, a village official said yesterday.

Sai Aung Myint, Ei Nai Vllage administrator, said 1500 villagers have sought shelter in temporary camps since fighting began between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and a joint force of the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

“Most evacuees are from our village. All the villagers fled last night from Mine Taung in Nar Sai Village of Namtu Township. The situation is very volatile,” he said.

The Tatmadaw (military) set up an encampment near the village to maintain order, but this only triggered more evacuations, Sai Aung Myint said.

He said the villagers fled to Lashio, except for about 200 people sheltering at the Kachin Baptist Church.

Myat Moe Thu/The Myanmar Times

On Monday morning, gunfire was heard near Ei Nai, and armed men in civilian clothes who spoke the Kachin language and appeared to be members of the SSPP were seen in the village. In the afternoon, RCSS fighters entered the village.

The fighting has become intense and people’s safety cannot be guaranteed, Sai Aung Myint said.

Daw Aye Han, who fled from Mine Taung on Monday, said, “Our village is eight kilometres from Ei Nai in the interior, and we can only get there using narrow trails in the mountains. It takes us two hours to walk to Ei Nai.”

“The ‘guerrilla force’

[RCSS] seems to be around the village, while the ‘green force’ [SSPP] is on the other side of the road,” she said. “There were so many. When we fled, they started fighting. We heard the gunfire,” she said.

Daw Aye Han said civilians like her were very afraid.

Myat Moe Thu/The Myanmar Times

“We ran away as we cannot live there anymore. Infants and four expectant mothers came with us. We are in trouble,” she said between sobs.

Tension was also high in 15 villages about 24km from Lashio, amid concerns the fighting would spill over to the area.

Witnesses said they did not think the forces would back down, as both sides were reported to be seen with heavy weapons.

Farmers may not be able to harvest their rice, which is already ripe.

Myat Moe Thu/The Myanmar Times

More than 1000 villagers are staying at Mansu Shan monastery in Lashio’s 12th ward, and assistance is being provided by the head monk, donors, and the local government, said U Nay Lin Tun, a Lashio township official.

“We will seek donations of food and shelter for the evacuees,” he said. “The monastery compound is huge, so it can accommodate the villagers. I want there to be peace. The village at the centre of the fighting suffered flooding during the monsoon and crops were destroyed, so the villagers are depending on the harvest of rice and maize. Having to flee the fighting is causing them much hardship.”

The head monk of the monastery tried to reassure the evacuees, telling them not to worry or get discouraged.

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This article originally appeared on The Myanmar Times on October 31, 2018.

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