At least six villagers were reportedly killed and six others injured when the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) opened fire on protesters opposing its gold mining operation in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State, on Wednesday.
The armed group was planning to mine on the Namt Lane river near Pyein Kham village to the north of Monesee town in the northeast of Kutkai Township. Residents say gold mining will harm the environment and their ability to earn a living, according to media reports.
Villages depend on the waterway for drinking water and irrigation.
On Wednesday, MNDAA troops opened fire on approximately 40 protesting villagers after a heated confrontation, a protester told the Myitkyina News Journal.
The villagers’ bodies were taken to the MNDAA office in Monesee, demanding accountability.
A social media video shows protesters shouting at MNDAA troops.
Injured villagers were reportedly being treated in Kutkai.
The MNDAA was unavailable for comment on Thursday.
The MNDAA is a member of the Brotherhood Alliance that began the anti-regime Operation 1027 in northern Shan State in late 2023.
The alliance has seized most of northern Shan State, including its capital Lashio, and vital trade routes with China.
