Amid the regime’s continued air raids on territories it has lost in northern Shan State, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing visited the garrison town of Pyin Oo Lwin, which neighbors Nawnghkio, a town controlled by the ethnic Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The junta boss was in attendance as cadets of the 67th Intake of the Defense Services Academy and those from the 27th Intake of the Defense Services Technological Academy chose their first duty stations on Monday and Tuesday, junta media reported.
He held talks with the chief of the general staff (army, navy and air), General Maung Maung Aye, Navy chief Vice Admiral Htein Win, and chief of the Central Command Brigadier General Kyaw Ko Htike on measures for “peace and stability” and the security of Pyin Oo Lwin, the seat of the military academies, the junta media outlets said.
When Min Aung Hlaing visited Mandalay on Aug. 25, he did not proceed to Pyin Oo Lwin, just 64 km to the north. Instead, he traveled to Taunggyi and Hsihseng in southern Shan State and Loikaw, the capital of Karenni State.
During that trip, he vowed to recapture territories his regime had lost. The pledge has been followed by junta air raids on Lashio, Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, Hsipaw and other towns controlled by the TNLA and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
Beijing has since issued a warning to the TNLA to “stop fighting the regime or face consequences.” China has also hosted the junta’s home affairs and defense ministers, offering military-to-military cooperation and providing 5 million yuan (about US$712,000) worth of equipment and supplies to the junta’s police force.
Recently, having received this backing from China, Min Aung Hlaing has finally started venturing out of Naypyitaw to visit areas close to the front lines. Prior to that he remained in the relative safety of the administrative capital as the Brotherhood Alliance comprising the TNLA, MNDAA and Arakan Army took one town after another during their Operation 1027 offensive launched in October last year. He remained in Naypyitaw as his regime lost more towns including Nawnghkio bordering Pyin Oo Lwin after the ethnic alliance resumed Operation 1027 in June.
Many Pyin Oo Lwin residents fled to Mandalay last month for fear of possible fighting.
As Min Aung Hlaing visited Pyin Oo Lwin, clashes between the regime and the TNLA and allied troops continued in Taung Khan (Tawnghkam) Village in southern Shan State’s Nawnghkio Township.
Fighting has been raging in Taung Khan for more than one month.
Min Aung Hlaing told local battalions to “take systematic measures for the security, peace and stability of Pyin Oo Lwin.” He also visited the military hospital in Pyin Oo Lwin, where he comforted wounded junta personnel.
As he did, his regime carried out air strikes on Hsipaw, controlled by the TNLA, and Lashio, controlled by the MNDAA, inflicting civilian casualties.
