Nang Noung Noung / SHAN — Multiple days of armed clashes between the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the junta in Lashio Township, northern Shan State has displaced an unknown number of local people. SHAN has been unable to independently confirm the number of IDPs or the extent of civilian causalities and property damage caused by the fighting.

On 27 January, the military regime launched an attack on a MNDAA camp in Lashio Township. A local man (source 1), who spoke on condition of anonymity for his security, said that armed clashes have continued in the area since then.

“ Clashes broke out in this area on 27 January. Today we can still hear the sound of gun fire. Many local people have fled from their villages, but some people remain trapped in their homes. Soldiers are present around civilian villages in the area, so people are afraid to leave,”  the local source told SHAN.

The local source said that the armed clashes have been taking place near Wan Pang, Wan Hit and Loi Hser villages in Lashio Township.

SHAN made repeated attempts to call the spokesperson of the MNDAA for comment but were unable to reach him.

The MNDAA is also a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC). The MNDAA hasn’t signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government. Representatives of the MNDAA didn’t attend the peace-talk meeting organized by the SAC military regime in Naypyitaw last year.

Elsewhere in Lashio Township, the junta attacked the Ta’ang National Liberation Army’s Battalion 595 camp around 1:30 p.m. on 29 January. The junta troops bombarded the TNLA camp with artillery before ground troops attacked.

The Military regime announced a year-long ceasefire with ethnic armed organizations starting on 1 January 2023, but in practice the junta has continued to launch offensives against ethnic armed groups using air power, artillery shells and ground forces.