The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on Saturday announced rules for its troops in Lashio after claiming to have seized the northern Shan State capital and formed a commission for its administration on Thursday.
The commission will handle administrative matters and reconstruction work, it said.
The statement by the MNDAA, aka the Kokang army, ordered its troops not to occupy or enter houses in Lashio unless militarily necessary, not to seize civilian vehicles, not to ask for money or resources from civilians, and not to levy tax from individuals or entities during the martial law period.
The MNDAA and allies began advancing on the northern Shan State capital, which hosts the junta’s Northeastern Military Command, early this month. The Command oversees the regime’s military activities up to the Chinese border.
On Thursday, the ethnic army claimed a historic victory, marked by the first seizure of a Command headquarters and capital by an ethnic armed group since the 2021 coup.
However, local reports indicate fighting is ongoing between Kokang forces and junta troops who remain in the town.
The junta has denied that the town and command headquarters have fallen.
Over the weekend, the MNDAA released photos of its soldiers celebrating victory in front of army bases, government offices and the town hall in Lashio.
A local observer said most of the town was under MNDAA control on Monday, bar small pockets of fighting.
“That’s why the MNDAA announced its administration,” he said.
Town residents couldn’t be reached due to a telecommunications outage.
The MNDAA statement also warned of punishment for any violations of human rights, cautioning MNDAA troops to treat prisoners of war and those who had surrendered according to rules of conflict.
The MNDAA attacked Lashio despite calling a unilateral truce in northern Shan State two weeks ago while the Communist Party of China held its Third Plenary Session.
China, which neighbors Shan State, had brokered a ceasefire in mid-January after the MNDAA and its Brotherhood Alliance allies overran most of northern Shan State, including border trade towns.
In Saturday’s statement, the MNDAA said it would “end the fighting as early as possible” and “do its best to bring about peace” in response to Beijing’s mediation.
The MNDAA did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
On Saturday, the United Wa State Army entered Lashio to protect its liaison office and possessions in the town, its spokesperson Nyi Rang said.
The UWSA sought permission to enter from both the MNDAA and the regime but would not take part in the conflict, he added.
“UWSA troops are not going to intervene, cooperate or give support to the warring groups,” he said.
This article is supported by the Transition Promotion Programme, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
