Ta’ang Villagers Abandon Homes Fearing Burmese Army Atrocities

By Tsa Doi La / Kachinland News (KLN) | December 20, 2016

The TNLA said Burmese army troops deliberately targeting civilian population in areas where no fighting is taking place between the two opposing troops.

Troops from Burmese army’s 567th Light Infantry Regiment allegedly entered Pan Ku village in Kutkai township after 10:00 a.m. on December 19, intimidating villagers and later torched Mr.Panya Thiri and Mrs. Ya Pi’s home to the ground. All the inhabitants of Pan Ku and Man Pain have fled their villages fearing Burmese army atrocities, according to TNLA Information Department officials.

In the morning on December 19, TNLA’s 2nd Brigade troops clashed at least three times with RCSS troops, between Pankha Tawng and Man Loi north of Htan Tsant village in Hsipaw township.

Clashes erupted between TNLA’s  256th Battalion and RCSS troops in Pankha Tawng north of Htan Tsant from 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., between TNLA’s 434th Battalion and RCSS troops near Man Loi from 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., and between TNLA’s 919th Battalion with RCSS troops from 6:45 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. beyond Pankha Tawng in Hsipaw township.

TNLA’s troops under 1st Brigade also reportedly fought Burmese army troops at around 10:00 a.m. on the same day near Pan Nyoo village in Kutkai township. The TNLA claimed clashes occurred due to Burmese army’s offensives in TNLA’s territories.

Fighting took place near Namtau, between KIA’s 36th Battalion troops under 6th Brigade and Burmese army troops advancing from Hpa Hkam at around 9:00 a.m. on December 19, according to a frontline source.