Regime forces have arrested an unspecified number of Momeik Township residents with past or present ties to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the ethnic Palaung Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Bawday village, northern Shan State, since Oct. 13. Momeik is located 170 miles (273 km) west of the regional capital Lashio.
A Momeik resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the arrests followed the defection of 54 TNLA members to regime forces in neighbouring Mandalay Region’s Mogok Township on Oct. 13. “[Regime forces] are holding family members captive to force [KIA or TNLA] members to surrender,” the resident added. Mogok is located 124 miles (200 km) north of Mandalay and 28 miles (45 km) southwest of Momeik.
The TNLA announced on Oct. 19 that 54 members, led by a man identified as Gu Si, “severed ties” with it and that action would be taken against them. Gu Si is a former military personnel in Mogok who defected to the TNLA in July 2024.
A source close to the Myanmar military told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the 54 former TNLA members were ethnic Lisu, who will form into a pro-regime militia. Regime media hasn’t reported on the surrender or the new militia.
Lisu is an ethnic minority who live in Kachin and Shan states and parts of Sagaing and Mandalay regions in Myanmar.
It also lost control of Kyaukme, Hsipaw and Nawnghkio townships, located 138-159 miles (222-255 km) southwest of Lashio, to regime forces in 2025.
The TNLA now controls Namhkam, Namtu, Mongngawt, and Monglon townships, as well as constitutionally recognized Palaung Self-Administered Zone (SAZ)—comprising Namhsan and Manton townships—which it seized during “Operation 1027” alongside the MNDAA and ethnic Rakhine Arakan Army (AA).
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