No shelter, no food, no help: Wounded PDFs abandoned after MNDAA joint ops
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Eain/Munich (NP News) - Jan 1
Local residents say that PDF and other armed groups who fought with the MNDAA in northern Shan State have been living like homeless people and are struggling in Laukkai.
Joint operations in northern Shan State have been conducted by the MNDAA (Kokang), TNLA (Ta'ang), AA (Rakhine), PDF, and KNDF.
Wounded KNDF members and other fighters who participated in joint attacks are seeking refuge in Laukkai, according to local residents who spoke to The NP News.
“The KNDF is facing serious hardships now after helping others in the fighting. They are struggling even to find food. They have to beg for food here and there, and they don’t even have a place to stay. The MNDAA, whom they assisted in the fighting, hasn’t provided them with any shelter. In the past, they used to stay in hotels, but now they can’t even afford that. These soldiers came as battalions to assist in the fighting, and it’s said that many have died. It’s reported that out of an entire battalion, only about nine people remain. Even when they come for medical treatment for their injuries, the MNDAA asks if they have a residence permit or other documents, and they are sometimes detained. They have nowhere to stay, nothing to eat, and so they’re constantly on the move, trying to survive. The MNDAA not only refuses to provide them with shelter but also doesn’t help them in any way. That’s the situation,” said a resident of Laukkai.
Additionally, the MNDAA is arresting and detaining members of allied armed groups who have fought alongside them in Laukkai Township if those individuals do not possess residence cards, according to a resident.
According to the resident, the MNDAA is also forcing PDF members under the NUG's command to depart the township.
“They allied for fights but they can’t stay even for medical treatment. They arrested them and put them in the jail. Some said that. Some of them moved to Thailand side. Their organization also collected the identity cards making them not to go anywhere. However, there are fewer PDFs of NUG in Laukkai. It has been 10 days since we have seen them. It seems like MNDAA forced them to leave. One of the PDFs has lost his leg. Now, we have not seen them. It seems like NUG supporters were forced to leave. It means that they do not support NUG,” the resident continued.
During fighting in northern Shan State, PDF forces loyal to the NUG and KNDF members actively participated alongside the MNDAA, incurring significant casualties.
The MNDAA has previously stated it is not allied with the NUG and has frequently expressed willingness to negotiate with the SAC government.