Over 100 aid workers from several organizations remained stranded in Laogai till yesterday due to adoption of hit and run tactics on the road by some Kokang fighters led by Peng Jiasheng’s son, Peng Daxun, reliable sources said.
Today, local Burmese authorities were reported to have arranged transport to send these workers and families of the Burmese Army personnel to Lashio, according to an informed local source.
“A lot of soldiers were ordered to guard these workers and their families,” he said.
The aid workers are from World Food Program (WFP), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), World Vision, Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA), Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia (ARDA), Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN) and Health- Unlimited from China.
“A Frenchman from ARDA was among the workers, who still remain there, while three Japanese were able to leave only a few days before it [fighting] happened,” he said.
“The reason was the Burmese Army‘s blockade of the road at Kunlong Bridge.”
The Kunlong Bridge that spans the Salween was attacked by Wa forces under the command of the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) in 1971-72. The campaign ended with heavy losses on both sides and the CPB retreated without being able to capture the bridge.
Among the aid organizations, only Care Myanmar was able to evacuate its workers a day before the fighting began on August 27, according to a source who wished to be anonymous.
Wa authorities have also asked the UN and NGOs to suspend their activities and be ready to leave before hostilities break out. Some NGOs have already left. One of them, Care Myanmar, reached Lashio yesterday, according to a Kokang source.
According to the latest information, thousands of people from Mongyang (under Burmese Army control) and Mongpawk-Mongphen (under UWSA control) have been fleeing either to the Chinese border or to Kengtung (102 km southwest of Mongyang) and even to Tachilek on the Thai-Burma border due to widespread rumours that more Burmese Army troops are still being sent to Kunlong (north of the Wa-controlled territory) and Mongkhark-Mongyang (south of the Wa controlled territory).
