Kutkai, 13 November

Clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) resumed at two separate locations in Kutkai Township, Northern Shan State this morning, according to local people.

The fighting between the Tatmadaw and TNLA took about an hour and led to temporarily closure of a tollgate on the Mandalay-Lashio-Muse Union Road. A number of vehicles heading to Muse, a border town from Mandalay are currently stranded near the tollgate. “The Tatmadaw stopped us as the army worried the clash to be resumed at a place between Kutkai and Muse. We are on the way to Muse from Mandalay and we were stopped here since this morning,” said Ko Kyaw Soe Aung, a truck driver.

“I operate businesses in Muse and Mandalay. I am very scared of seeing clashes. I want peace and stability here,” said Daw Ohnmar Swe who witnessed the confrontation between the Tatmadaw and TNLA.—Ko Maine (IPRD)
Translated by Kyaw Htike Soe