SHAN STATE – After the junta council surrendered Namtu township in northern Shan State, the junta council issued a secret instruction that Lashio, the base of the North-eastern Command, must be protected by any means necessary to prevent the revolutionary forces from attacking and occupying it.
On December 25th, Ta’ang Army PSLF/TNLA began to attack the military council camps in Namtu. After 4 days of attack, on December 28th at approximately 1:30 a.m., the Junta Council 324th LIB’s Strategic Hill in Namtu and the military bases, such as Mansan Army Camp, Panthapyay Camp, Naung Sai Guard Station, the police stations and all the departmental offices under the junta council were captured, and Namtu township was totally captured by the TNLA.
“The junta troops retreating from the Namtu side were forced to enter Lashio, and instructed that Lashio could not be surrendered in any way. Other columns scattered in the north of Shan state were also instructed to assemble in Lashio. Lashio must be protected at all costs. Since Lashio is the base of North-eastern Command, so the township must be protected and those who encroach on national sovereignty must be resolutely defeated,” said a junta council’s source.
At the present, the junta council is strictly checking the entry and exit of Lashio city.
If anyone does not have documents such as National Identification Card, letter of recommendation or a travel certificate, that person will not be allowed to enter the city or pass through the city.