CNI News
4 October 2024
As Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) are making attempts in competition in order to seize control of Lashio City in northern Shan State, there are comments among political analysts about how important Lashio is militarily and economically.
Is important militarily and economically to EAOs and the Myanmar Tatmadaw, Col. Khun Okkar, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News.
" Lashio is economically an important city. In the past, troops of the Burma Communist Party had entered Lashio. It has a strategic command of the Tatmadaw, which the MNDAA has seized control of the city. The dignity of central authorities was hurt because they lost control of a militarily important place. So, they will be disturbing so as not to enable the people to live in the city in some way." he said.
While seeing the MNDAA
Lashio is located on the China-Myanmar border trade route and economically important. In the same way, the Northeast Command of the Myanmar Tatmadaw, militia and other military camps were located.
At present, the MNDAA has captured Theinni, Phaungsai, Monko, Chin Shwe Haw, Laukkai and Kon Kyan including the Northeast Command during Operation-1027.
And then, as the MNDAA is establishing administration in Lashio, the Myanmar Tatmadaw is trying so as not to enable the MNDAA to establish administration by launching air strikes.
The Myanmar Tatmadaw possibly was attacking Lashio by air to regain control of its Northeast Command and Lashio was important to EAOs because it was pivotal in northern Shan State, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.
While seeing Muse 105 Mile Trade Gate
" Lashio is important to an extent. But it's not the most important to (Sr-Gen) Min Aung Hlaing. The most important thing to him is that the MNDAA can't stay in Lashio any longer and to make the people flee the city. He is crushing down the city because he can rebuild the Northeast Command, I think. And northern Shan State is important to EAOs and Lashio is the most important to northern Shan State. So, the Command was established in Lashio." he said.
As the China-Myanmar trade routes pass through Lashio, it is economically important, added U Than Soe Naing. " All the economic routes connecting China pass through Lashio. Because Lashio is closed, the military council is losing by hundred million dollars. So, the military council seems to be trying to create a situation in which there is no one to live in Lashio." he said.
Although the Chinese government persuaded the MNDAA to retreat from Lashio and to set foot in Laukkai, the MNDAA responded it was unlikely because it could face objection from its troops, according to the diplomatic circles.
The MNDAA announced on 4th September it would discuss peace through the China's mediation; it wouldn't attack to Mandalay and Taunggyi; it wanted full self-administration; it wouldn't expand its military and it would conduct self-defense.
