According to local residents close to the military outpost, the Nam-tong based military unit under 33rd Infantry Battalion in Mong-Kao shot at a combatant from the Lahu People’s Militia around 4:30 pm on January 1. The skirmish lasted for an hour after another soldier from the Lahu People’s Militia fired back in defense, killing one Tatmadaw soldier and injuring another private.

“They make fun of us for not being able to speak in Burmese well. They use abusive words hurting our parents when they are angry. They shot at us after pretending to threaten us with their guns. Two died on the spot. Another person fired back in defense and the fight lasted for about an hour,” said a member of the Lahu People’s Militia from Tangyan.

Among 11 soldiers at Namtong outpost, three are from the Lahu People’s Militia and the remaining eight are from the Tatmadaw. One Tatmadaw soldier was killed and another injured during the shootout. According to an unverified report, the injured Tatmadaw soldier died on the way while having medical treatment in Tangyan.

According to another unconfirmed report, the skirmish broke out due to a dispute after the Tatmadaw allegedly pressured the Lahu People’s Militia to fight the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) amid the military tension between the Tatmadaw and the SSPP/SSA. However, the Lahu People’s Militia declined to fight against SSA.

The Tatmadaw attacked the SSPP/SSA outposts at the Padamya Mountain in Mong-Hsu and Mong-yai Townships from December 31, 2017 to January 1, 2018. Currently, military tension is high between the two armed groups.

The Tatmadaw, the police, and the defense police, also known as the Lahu People’s Militia, are active in Tangyan Township. Lahu People’s Militia and the Tatmadaw also have joint military outposts in other areas beside Mong-Kao and Nam-tong.