By Poesangle / MPA
Myanmar junta’s airstrikes on Northern Shan State’s townships lead to the deaths of 14 civilians and injuries to 17 others between October 15 and 24, according to ground resistance forces.
The junta began daily airstrikes using 500-pound bombs in Nawnghkio, Laukkai, Kunlong, Lashio, and Namhsan following the TNLA’s siege of Hsipaw on October 13.
The aerial bombings of the junta left four dead and seven injured in Nawnghkio, five dead and four injured in Namhsan, five dead and five injured in Lashio, with one injured in Kunlong. Despite no casualties in Laukkai, numerous homes were reportedly damaged.
“After bombings, no one dares sleep in the village at night. They sleep in tea leaf fields instead. The elderly face ever greater hardships due to their poor health conditions. Let alone the adults, even the children get frightened when they hear the noise a few times. Those with poor health face mental health impacts, hiding whenever planes fly over,” said a young woman from Homein Village in Namhsan.
Homein Village in Namhsan Township was also bombed by the junta at 1:00 AM on October 22.
Despite the Myanmar junta’s intentional airstrikes on civilians, China has shown no objections but continues to exert its pressure on the Northern Brotherhood Alliance through various means.
One of these methods includes the Chinese government barring its exports to Myanmar at the China-Myanmar border gates held by the revolutionary forces.
During the first phase of Operation 1027, Northern Alliance forces captured Chinese-Myanmar border gates including Kyansangkyawt, Chinshwehaw, Yanlongkeng, Monekoe, and Namhkam.
“Ethnic groups have resisted with arms for many years. Chinese pressure isn’t new; it’s always been this way. Clearly, China doesn’t support democracy in Myanmar, contrary to the will of the Myanmar people. So they support either the junta or the ethnic forces using its carrot and stick policy. China has never borne goodwill for Myanmar. This is my perspective,” stated a Shan youth from Lashio.
Due to China’s current blockade at the border, Myanmar faces economic, livelihood, and health impacts. However, ethnic communities, having endured hardship for over 70 years, are undeterred by these difficulties, believing that China cannot keep borders closed in the long run, continued the source.
“China closed all border gates, blockading the trade routes. Does that mean they no longer need Myanmar’s exports? How long can they keep the gates closed when they import so much from Myanmar?” he added.
China has also restricted water, electricity, food, medicine, and ammunition to the border towns under revolutionary control in addition to exerting pressure on ethnic revolutionary groups to cease fighting in Northern Shan State.
All China-Myanmar border gates, including Tarlot Gate in Kengtung and Mongla, Eastern Shan State, as well as the Muse-Jie Gao Gate, have been strictly controlled for entry and exit, and all imports and exports have been halted starting from October 22, according to local sources from Muse.
“A limited entry and exit is still allowed at the Sinphyu and the middle (Jie Gao) gates, but it is very restricted,” said a woman from Muse. “Only a few fruits and vegetables are allowed, and only as per China’s set limits.”
Additionally, China has exerted various pressure on ethnic resistance groups to cease fighting in northern Shan State with restrictions on the transport of water, electricity, food, medicine, and ammunition to border towns under the control of the resistance forces.
After the commencement of the second phase of Operation 1027, China’s National Security Committee in Ruili sent a letter to the TNLA on August 29, pushing to cease fighting to maintain peace and stability along the Myanmar-China border.
However, despite China’s pressure to halt fighting, northern alliance groups MNDAA, TNLA, AA, and allied PDF forces continued to capture Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Mogok, and Mongmit during the second wave of Operation 1027.
