Lt-Col Zawm Mong, SSA Task Force commander said: “On humanitarian grounds, we would like to request the Chinese government to accommodate the refugees. Now, the refugees are not only from 19 villages located on the Mao (Shweli) Valley but also other villages such as Loi Hohso. For them, it is as if the world is coming to an end. People are facing a lot of difficulties. People who have relatives across the border may be okay for shelter, but those who don’t have them are suffering. We would like to request NGOs, INGOs and other Shan organizations to help those refugees too.”

Early this week, Burma army from Military Operations Command (MOC) #16 with over 400-troops launched a series of attack on RCSS/SSA Task Force 701 based in Nawng Ma area on Sino-Burma border which sent thousands to flee their homes for safety. Now they are facing a hard life, said local news sources in Namkham.

“We are helping the people as our capacity allows; but that is only 7% we can do to help so far. Unfortunately there is no refugee center at the Sino-Burma border area, which makes it very hard to support them. The most important thing we would like to request is that the Chinese militia stop the unnecessary interrogation of the refugees who have fled from the war zone. Furthermore, we also would like to request the Chinese authority, youth organizations in the city, humanitarian organizations and all those concerned to support the refugees. We also urge them to consider the refugees as their own kin,” Lt-Col Zawm Mong told SHAN.

“The people from those of Nawng Ma tract and Nawng Sawm tract to Loi Hohso areas are located on the other side of Mao River on the Sino-Burma border, is a long distant journey. The people are urgently in need of food and medical supplies,” said a young man from Namkham.

“Burma Army is working toward a tyrannical military system. The army is planning to eliminate all the ethnic group people. We have bee informed that they [Burma army] have arrested 3 villagers who went home to collect some of their belongings. Although we have decided to withdraw from the base, our fighting spirit for our national cause will continue,” the Task Force commander vowed.

Concerning the Burma Army’s decision to take over the SSA Task Force 701 base, Maj Lao Hseng, the spokesperson for the RCSS/SSA has voiced his opinion that it could have been for the following 3 reasons: 1) The SSA Task Force base was on the Sino-Burma border, 2) The SSA was implementing a drug free zone and 3) The SSA base was also located close to the route of Shwe gas pipelines.