Hsu/ Thuta Kyaw (NSS) - Feb 24 

In Namtu Township within Shan State, the place currently being controlled by the Ta'ang insurgents TNLA, an incident occurred involving a car driven by the TNLA soldiers who collided with civilians. According to local media reports and interviews conducted by The Statesman News Journal, rather than expressing remorse through apology, the TNLA soldiers responded by firing their weapon into the air and threatening the victims at gunpoint.

On 21 February around noon, a car accident occurred near the cremation machine at the Namtu entrance bridge. The two victims were drivers from the Lashio-Namtu-Muse highway express. Their vehicle broke down after passing Namtu on the way to Muse. Consequently, the two victims halted to have their car repaired in Lashio. It was during this time that a car driven by two TNLA soldiers collided with their vehicle.

After the accident, one of the victims stated that his leg was broken. At that moment, the TNLA soldier from the driver's seat exited the vehicle; fired his gun into the sky; and then aimed it at the victim's chest threatening to shoot him if his injury was not truly broken.

This incident occurred after the TNLA announced their raid on the town in December. 

"Yeah, we heard about it," said a Shan local. "Probably just a young driver or someone not thinking straight. We don't want any more of that happening, though. It seemed like they thought having arms meant they could do whatever they wanted."

In that accident, the speed was excessively high, and they drove in the opposite direction of the road. One of the victims was thrown out and sustained a severe back injury, while another person riding the motorcycle fractured their left leg.”

The victim, a 43-year-old man from Ward number 12 in Lashio, sustained a broken leg. It is reported that he is currently receiving treatment at Lashio People’s Hospital.