CNI News

12 December 2023

While those who were working in Laukkai returned to Lashio due to the battles and high commodity prices, many of them had no contact with their family members and some of them were arrested by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), their family members told CNI News.

Since November, they have come down from Laokkai to return to their hometowns and they have no contact with their family members up to now and some have been arrested to recruit, which a person, her acquaintance, released by the MNDAA told her, Ma Akari, lover of a detainee, told CNI News.

" Many people have been returning from Laukkai up to now since 25th November. They were arrested in Chin Shwe Haw or on the way. I was told that all the ethnic people were arrested. I don't know how my boyfriend was arrested because I have no contact with him. I was told that he came back with a Karen woman. At the first checkpoint, he told the checkers that he was a karen. If you told them that you were a Karen, your phone would not be seized. But at the second checkpoint, both of them were arrested. Among those who were arrested with them were included two brothers. One of brothers was released. He made a contact with me. He was sent back to Chin Shwe Haw at night. They were arrested in Wa State somewhere beyond Namtik. He doesn't recognize the place exactly." she said.

Those who come down to Lashio

There were many people who came to Laukkai from other regions including Bago, Magway, Yangon and Sagaing Regions to work there and due to the current battles breaking out in northern Shan State, they came back to their hometowns through Lashio.

Those who afford came back in cars or on motorcycles while those who couldn't afford returned on foot, said locals.

Although many people came down from Laukkai, because the family members haven't had no contact with them, there are a lot of people who are asking for help through their social network pages, describing their phone numbers.

Those who described their phone numbers on social media were also facing fraudulent requests for money, U Nyan, who has not had contact with his six family members who have come down since 18th November, told CNI News.

" We haven't had contact with my family members since 18th November. A man phoned me yesterday. He said that my family members were at the 125 relif camp. He would send them to Mandalay. But we have to pay him 300,000 kyats each person. I replied him that I needed to consult with other family members because I can't afford that amount. I haven't contacted him. After that, another man phoned me not very long ago. He told me that they have arrested my daughter and granddaughter. If I transferred 300,000 kyats to him, he would release my daughter and granddaughter. But he didn't allow me to talk with my daughter and granddaughter." he said.

Those who come down to Lashio

Several hundred civilians are fleeing to Lashio daily from Laukkai, Chin Shwe Haw, Namtik, Tangyan, Kunlong, Theinni due the current battles breaking out severely in northern Shan State and most of them were from Laukkai, said local philanthropic associations.

" Most of them are coming back from Laukkai. We, philanthropic associations, give them rice packages and a few other necessities. They get into trouble a bit. We can't carry them by car. They have to walk. There is a slight shortage of food and water on the way. When they reach here, we have planned to make them convenient. Those who arrive from Laukkai are not allowed to enter Lashio. The authorities allow them to stay outside Lashio conveniently." said an official from a philanthropic association.

if the residents of Lashio were among the civilians who fled, those who could show evidence that they were Lashio residents would be allowed to enter the city reportedly. 

However, because big battles have not yet taken place in Laukkai, some people have not come back from there. However, they are getting into trouble due to skyrocketing prices reportedly.