Update by the Shan Human Rights Foundation
September 28, 2023
Four women injured, houses damaged by SAC shelling and airstrikes in Muse township, northern Shan State
Four women were injured and houses in several villages damaged by SAC shelling and airstrikes during fighting against the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) from September 17 to 25, 2023, in Muse township, northern Shan State.
On September 17, fighting broke out between SAC and TNLA troops south of Wein Nang village, at the southern edge of Muse town.
In the afternoon of September 18, about 40 SAC troops from ID 99, based at Loi Zan Sar and Khu Weing in the outskirts of Muse town, together with members of the Myo Ma militia, Kawng Kha militia and Peing Hsar militia – altogether over 100 soldiers – advanced towards the hilltop temple at Loi Tay Mong, east of Selan village tract, where TNLA troops were staying. That evening, at around 8 pm, the SAC troops staying at Loi Zan Sar started firing artillery into Man Karn village, Selan village tract, even though there were no TNLA troops there. The shells hit and damaged several houses in the village, and bomb shrapnel hit a 40-year-old woman, injuring her right thigh.
On September 19, at around 5 pm, the SAC troops staying at Loi Zan Sar started firing artillery into Zan Sar village, Selan village tract, despite there being no TNLA troops there. The shells hit and damaged two houses, and bomb shrapnel injured two women aged about 50, Nang Ling and Nang Soit, and a 17-year-old girl Nang Eii in Zan Sar village. They were sent to Muse hospital.
On September 20, in the morning, during a shelling exchange between SAC and TNLA, shells landed in Su Taung Taung temple between Muse town and Selan village tract, hitting and injuring the abbot and damaging the temple. A local Shan charity group in Muse came to take the injured monk to Muse hospital.
On September 25, at around 10 pm, SAC aircraft dropped ten bombs on Man Harn village, Maw Tawng village tract, damaging five civilian houses.
Due to the fighting, around 700 residents from Namkat village tract, Selan village tract, and Wein Nang village in Muse township, have fled to Nam Sant temple, Marn Nim temple, Pangkham temple, and Kaung Tad temple in Muse township. These villagers had fled fighting at the end of August, but returned in the first week of September when the fighting died down.
Contact
Sai Hor Hseng +66: 94-728-6696 Signal (Shan, English)
Ying Leng Harn +66: 98 118 3767 (Burmese)
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