As the news spread on December 6 that fighting might escalate to downtown Laukkai, migrant workers desperately rushed to hire buses, cars and vans to return to their hometowns, a local driver told Shan Herald.

“The workers are anxious and eager to go home. They are renting vehicles in such a rush that there are not even enough cars. But the fares are still normal. Everyone is very worried because of the news of the potential fighting”, he said.

Fierce fighting between the Military Council and the Kokang Army (aka) Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) took place in Chinshwehaw and Namhpar Taung areas on November 28th and 29th, and some residents are fleeing in advance as there are reports that the conflict may spread to Laukkai.

Due to the rush of returning workers to hire cars, some private car owners in Laukkai decide to operate as rental cars, locals said.

“The fare for the Laukkai-Kunlong trip is 60,000 kyats. The shortage of rental cars has prompted even the owners of private cars in Laukkai to rent out their vehicles and earn a good income on the side”, a Laukkai resident in his thirties told Shan Herald.

Currently most of those who are desperately trying to return home are from the towns of Lashio, Hsipaw (Thibaw), Muse, and Kyaukme in northern Shan state, as well as some locals from the plain regions.

There are many casinos in Laukkai, which have employed migrant workers as translators in online games among other jobs.