One Civilian Killed, Several injured in Shan State’s Namkham Township

By Lawi Weng 3 May 2017

An artillery shell killed an elderly woman on Tuesday morning in Nang Hom village of northern Shan State’s Namkham Township after clashes between the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Burma Army, according to local community leaders.

“One 80-year-old woman was killed on the spot when a 120-millimeter artillery shell fell onto her house at 11:30 a.m.,” Nyi Kyaw Sein, an ethnic Palaung (Ta’ang) community leader from Pha Lan village, told The Irrawaddy.

Locals suspect the shell came from a Burma Army base in nearby Sakhan Tit village.

TNLA spokesperson Tar Aike Kyaw confirmed that one person had been hit by shelling in the region.

Seven local people were also allegedly shot by Burma Army soldiers as they walked back to Man Lon village from nearby tea plantations at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Nyi Kyaw Sein.

He said three women were seriously wounded and admitted to a public hospital in Namkham town yesterday.

Burma Army soldiers allegedly accosted the villagers and told them not to move. Out of fear, they ran, and were subsequently gunned down.

Clashes have been ongoing between the Burma Army and TNLA troops in Namhkham Township since April 29, according to local villagers.

Tuesday saw fighting in Kaung Kay and Pan San villages with the Burma Army using three helicopters to support troops and damage buildings, according to Tar Aike Kyaw. Two members of the TNLA were wounded, he said.

According to the TNLA spokesperson, the Burma Army’s Infantry Division 88 suffered heavy casualties on Tuesday, though he was not confident of exact numbers.

Fighting broke out in Kaung Wine village on Wednesday, he added.