Burma-Myanmar: Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) accuses military of helping Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) gain bases in North Shan
An officer of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has complained that whenever the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) risks losing control of one of their bases in Namtu or Lashio townships of northern Shan State, troops from the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, step in to help them.
Renewed fighting has been ongoing in the Namtu and Lashio areas for almost three weeks, according to the TNLA’s Brig-Gen Tar Phone Kyaw. In joint operations, the TNLA and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) have been carrying out attacks on RCSS bases with the intention of forcing them to leave the area.
“The RCSS nearly lost all bases in Namtu and Lashio. They cannot stay in those areas anymore if they lose their base nearby in Mongmu Village. But then the Myanmar Army came in to help. They use air strikes and 105 millimeter shells,” said Brig-Gen Tar Phone Kyaw.
There has been strong fighting for two consecutive days in Mongmu Village between the Myanmar military and the joint forces of the TNLA and the SSPP. The Myanmar military uses three battalions on the ground to attack the joint force.