In Namhkam Town, northern Shan State, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has warned that locals will be blocked from passing through TNLA checkpoints unless they register with the TNLA.

The TNLA has been conducting population and household censuses in various wards of the town since late October, after TNLA immigration officials convened a meeting with ward administrators on October 27 regarding the census collection.

“The TNLA has warned that only residents who are registered with them will be allowed to travel freely. If you’re not registered, you won’t be able to pass through their checkpoints. Many people in Namhkam go to work on the Chinese side of the border, and they have to pass through two or three TNLA checkpoints between Namhkam and Muse. So, unregistered residents are worried that these checkpoints could stop them,” said a town resident.

Shan Herald reached out to TNLA spokeswoman Lawy Yay Oo about the matter, but has not received a response yet.

In Namkham, the TNLA charges 10,000 MMK per household for registration and issues two types of identification cards, costing 10,000 MMK and 5,000 MMK. The cards include information in English, Burmese, and Ta’ang (Palaung) languages.

Chinese citizens entering TNLA-controlled areas are also being issued temporary residence cards, which must be renewed every three to six months.

“Chinese people also have to apply for temporary residence cards, which they need to renew every three or six months. People with these cards can travel freely in TNLA-controlled areas. Since this area is right on the border, there are also a lot of Chinese traders working with the TNLA here,” the aforementioned source added.

The TNLA has controlled Namhkam since December 18, 2023. Since then, it has increased taxes on grocery stores and other businesses, and starting in May 2025, has also raised taxes on local vehicle ownership. Most recently, the TNLA imposed registration fees on individuals, adding further financial burdens, residents said.

Furthermore, TNLA-issued registration cards are valid only in TNLA-controlled areas, and Namhkam residents warned that holders risk arrest by junta troops if found in other remote areas.

“The TNLA started forcing car registration not long ago, and now it is requiring people to register as well. Even in Muse Town, soldiers and police stop anyone carrying these cards, ask how much they owe the TNLA, and then extort that amount before letting them go,” a truck driver who operates between Namhkam and Muse said.

The TNLA announced that its Immigration Department was fully reformed in 2025, aiming to determine the exact population in its controlled areas, monitor the movement of people in and out, and protect and promote the civil rights of locals.

Under Chinese mediation, junta and TNLA delegations met in China on October 27–28 and signed a ceasefire agreement. According to the TNLA’s statement on October 29, the agreement stipulates that the TNLA will withdraw from Mogok Town in Mandalay Region and Momeik (Mongmit) Town in northern Shan State, which it currently controls, for a set period.