NSS – Jan 1 

The Kokang insurgents MNDAA launched an attack at the Laukkai regional military command of Tatmadaw in the early morning of December 31; and therefore, armed clashes between the two sides were tense. 

The Tatmadaw troops reportedly used air and artillery reinforcements in the clash.

A Laukkai resident informed NP News that “The regional military command in Laukkai has been attacked by the Kokang insurgents since the morning. The clash has been highly intense. There reinforced troops in the Tatmadaw side. Tatmadaw also use air counter-attacks.”

The resident said, “There are only MNDAA troops in Laukkai. The Tatmadaw troops only stay inside its base. They don’t attack the MNDAA in the city. However, we’ve heard that the MNDAA conquered the Tatmadaw military outpost located in Palaung Village yesterday night.”

The alliance of three terrorists from the northern led by the MNDAA initiated the ‘Operation 1027’ on 27 October which attacked and raided the Tatmadaw security outposts in northeast Shan State with disproportionately massive troops. 

Tatmadaw security outposts were seized by the insurgents in the ‘Operation 1027’. 

The source continued, “There were four checkpoints by the Tatmadaw along the way from Laukkai to Chinshwehaw before this situation. No one checkpoint is left now. Buildings and houses were hugely damaged in Laukkai due to the clashes. My house also broke glasses in the windows.” 

According to the reports, the MNDAA insurgents seize the civilian houses in Laukkai City and forced the civilians to leave.