Local residents have been feeling concerned about travelling on the road due to a skirmish on the Union Highway between Muse and Sel Lant Village in the northern Shan State on Tuesday (June 19) afternoon.
Sai Maung from Sel Lant Village said vehicles and motorcycles had to stop temporarily after two unexploded bombs were found under a bridge connecting Hsai Hkawng and Sal Lant villages under Muse Township while the farmers were returning home from their work.
“I don’t know who set them up. I can’t say what type of bombs they were. Hseng Keow People’s Militia and the Tatmadaw’s 88th Light Infantry Division (LID-88) disarmed the unexploded bombs. Gunfire was shot from inside the forest. I don’t know which group did it,” said Sai Maung.
According to him, Hseng Keow People’s Militia and the Tatmadaw LID-88 exchanged fire with the unknown armed group after they were shot from the hill while they were disarming the bombs.
“The public are concerned because they don’t know what will happen and when it will happen. They are worried especially these days,” said Sai Naunt, joint secretary of Namhkam Township Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD).
Travellers and local residents are worried every day due to frequent skirmishes on Muse-Namkham Union Highway. Local residents said they feel insecure as various ethnic armed groups are active in the area.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) instructed private schools from Muse and people’s militias on June 3 to submit their taxes by June 16 so Muse residents have been travelling with caution since June 16.
People’s militias and ethnic armed groups are active in Muse Township in the northern Shan State and fighting often breaks out in the area.
