Last week the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) captured Namhsan, a city in the northern Shan State.
The TNLA is one of three ethnic militias that form the Three Brotherhood Alliance that launched an offensive against Myanmar’s military junta at the end of October.
According to the militias, at least 650 regular soldiers surrendered, potentially changing the direction of Myanmar’s civil war, which began with the military coup of 1 February 2021.
TNLA fighters are “walking the revolutionary path,” said the group’s spokesman, Tar Aik Kyaw. “The main objective is to take down the military dictatorship, which is what Myanmar people [have] always want[ed],” he added.
The offensive, called Operation 1027 from the date of its start, October 27, is still ongoing despite strikes by the junta’s air force.
Sources told AsiaNews that the fighting has now reached all segments of the population, affecting places of worship as well, Christian and non-Christian alike.
At least 660,000 people have been displaced since the operation began, this according to United Nations data.