The Tatmadaw (government army) carried out surprise searches of ethnic Ta’ang (Palaung) people’s homes in Lwe-Sar Village on the outskirts of Namkhan Township, Northern Shan State on 20th October.
Soldiers from the government army battalion based in Sa-Khan-Thit in Namkhan Township under the command of Brigade No. 88 began searching the houses at midday.
A villager whose house was searched by the army said: ”They came together with the village administrator and searched house by house. Only Ta’ang people’s homes were checked, they did not take anything but they were rude. They said they had information about guns and homemade bombs.
Unknown armed groups attacked the army camp at Sa-Khan-Thit twice on 17th October.
Villagers said that Brigade 88 accused the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) of being behind the attacks and they believed that Ta’ang villagers were supporting the TNLA.
A villager said: “Where would we get guns from and why would we be violent. We are Buddhist people, we would not destroy the handrail on a bridge, let alone take a human life. They [the soldiers] just came to cause problems.”
There are 30 houses in Lwe-Sar Village, of which seven are Ta’ang people’s houses.
