By Poe Sngle / MPA
Despite the Ta’ang Army, TNLA controlling over the town of Hsipaw in Northern Shan State, three of the military junta’s battalions—Infantry Battalions 503, 504, and 23—remain in the area, according to local sources.
On August 9, 2024, intense clashes erupted in Hsipaw between the TNLA allied forces and military junta troops, leading to the TNLA taking control of the town by August 10.
However, the junta’s forces continue to launch artillery shellings and airstrikes, resulting in frequent civilian casualties and injuries.
On September 5, at 9:30 AM, artillery shells fired from the military base in Namlan hit Hsipaw, killing a 72-year-old man named U Lone Sita and severely injuring a 72-year-old woman named Daw Nan Rwat Lu, as reported by residents.
“Shells are fired almost daily from Namlan. Today, an artillery shell hit, killing a man instantly, while a woman lost both of her legs. On September 4, supplies and weapons were airlifted to the remaining military bases in Hsipaw,” said a social worker in Hsipaw.
Although clashes have subsided since August 25, civilians still fled due to continued shelling by junta troops.
With no junta troops present in the town of Hsipaw, military bases remain nearby, and the troops continue to fire artillery shells at the town almost daily. Following this, a woman from Nyaung Koe Pin Village was killed by one such shell on August 31.
Additionally, on September 1, an artillery shell fired by the junta landed on a house in Koe Sone Village, Hsipaw, injuring a man. On September 3, a man who was returning from Shwe Nyaung in Southern Shan State to Nawnghkio Township was killed by another shell near Nar Ma Khaw Village, and another man traveling with him was seriously injured.
“Due to the continuous shelling, residents no longer dare to stay in the town. Some have fled to safer places. Despite the subsiding clashes, the military continued arbitrary shellings, so people fled to Kyaukme and Namlan, while others moved to nearby villages of Hsipaw. It’s difficult to estimate the number of displaced people,” said a local man from Hsipaw.
Between August 9 and September 5, nearly 30 civilians, including children, were killed in Hsipaw, and about 59 were injured due to artillery and airstrikes by the junta, according to reports from local residents and resistance forces.
Borderless Charity Association (Hsipaw) has been currently providing healthcare services to the residents in Hsipaw Township and from July 1 to September 1, they treated over 900 patients free of charge and assisted in the delivery of more than 20 babies, according to the report on September 5.
Likewise, on September 4, at around 5 PM, the junta launched an airstrike on Me Pote Village in Nawnghkio Township, destroying religious buildings, a school, and five houses.
“On August 29, the military also conducted an airstrike on Shwe Gu Letpan Kone Village, killing three civilians. While the town is currently calm, aircraft frequently fly overhead. Public activity remains normal and all the roads are open with no roadblocks. But, clashes continue intense in Taunghkam military base,” a local man from Nawnghkio Township explained.
On August 28, TNLA managed to capture the 406 and 206 Artillery Battalion bases in Taunghkam Village, Nawnghkio Township, and have been engaging in attacks on the 902 Artillery Operations Command and 354 Artillery Battalion, according to local sources.
