RANGOON — Schools, shops, and government offices in Shan State’s Namhsan were shut on Wednesday after the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) attacked two Burma Army bases on Tuesday night.
“The fighting began at 7pm and stopped at 10pm, but skirmishes continued to break out,” said U Ba Taung, of the Ta’ang Literature and Culture Organization in Namhsan town.
“There are only a few people out on the streets, many people are scared of the fighting—we did not have such a bad experience before,” he said, adding that a local high school and tea factory sustained damage but he had not heard of any injuries.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed Wednesday that the Burma Army repelled attacks by the TNLA on two of their bases in Namhsan town. They did not report any casualties.
General secretary of the TNLA Col Tar Phone Kyaw told The Irrawaddy that TNLA did not normally launch offensives in Namhsan town but were retaliating against recent Burma Army action.
“We just intended to show the Burma Army where we are as they have been launching shells around Namhsan and Mantong townships,” he said.
The defense ministry said that the TNLA also attacked a Burma Army base in Kyaukme Township last night.
