A 30-member troop from the Tatmadaw’s 525th Light Infantry Battalion under the Eastern Central Command inspected a self-help national school teaching Shan literature in Phayar-lein-si Village under Htunt-yeing Village Group on January 11.

“Recently, the Tatmadaw has been investigating the locations of Shan State national schools and the schools supported by the RCSS/SSA. It is investigating the location of a drug rehabilitation center established by the RCSS/SSA. They are doing the inspection. These actions bring down trust between each other. We can’t see the true nature of peace with these [actions],” Gen Yawd Serk told the Shan Herald.

A teacher said the Tatmadaw inspected the teachers from the national school and took photos of both the teachers and the children. They also asked questions about Shan soldiers.

“They shouldn’t have done that. [If they can do it,] I bet we could also do the same thing at the government schools in not only the rural area but also in the towns. They can’t give full-time security to the schools in the rural area,” said Gen Yawd Serk.

The national school in Htunt-yeing of Laihka Township was established by local residents and monks in 2015. The school currently has 36 students and three teachers and teaches mathematics, history, English, Shan literature, and Myanmar literature to the students.

According to sources close to the Eastern Central Command office, Major Than Hlaing, commander of the Eastern Central Command, has given instruction in late 2017 to collect a list of Shan national schools in Kholam, Loilen, Mongnai, and Langhko areas, where the Eastern Central Command office is active.