SHAN STATE – Mr. Nyi Ran, United Wa State Army’s (UWSA) external liaison official, stated that UWSA troops entered Lashio City where the MNDAA is waging a battle to take over the city.
He said that UWSA troops entered Lashio City on the night of July 27.
“According to the wishes of the various ethnic groups in Lashio and to protect our external relations offices and assets in the City, security forces from Wa State officially entered Lashio on July 27 night,” said Mr. Nyi Ran.
Before entering the city, both the MNDAA (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army) and the Military Council troops who are fighting each other were informed and UWSA forces entered the city with the consent of both sides.
“As the Wa security forces stationed in Lashio, we will not interfere, cooperate, or support any party in the war. UWSA hopes to achieve peace in Lashio city and the whole country as soon as possible,” Mr. Nyi Ran said.
A military source also informed that about 500 UWSA troops have arrived in Lashio.
The MNDAA and its allies started the battle to capture Lashio City on July 3 and announced that they captured the Military Council’s Northeastern Command (Yamakha) and the city was liberated on July 25. Although there were clashes after the announcement, MNDAA released footage of capturing the military council battalion bases and entering the city.
UWSA forces were similarly deployed in Tangyang on July 10. During the first part of the 1027 operation, the Wa forces took over the administration of the city of Hopan after coordination and discussion with both sides on the war. It is still under investigation how and what the Wa troops will do about the administration after deploying at Tangyang and Lashio.
However, Kokang MNDAA forces have informed that they will develop their administrative mechanism in Lashio Township.
Like the UWSA, the SSPP (Shan State Progress Party) Army was deployed at Maiye, and NDAA (The National Democratic Alliance Army) forces entered Maiyong in Shan State.
