Drugs, crimes, brothel businesses publicly opened in Lashio under MNDAA

22/03/2025 15:08

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Phyo/Pearl (NP News) - March 23

According to information obtained by the Statesman Journal from local residents, the Kokang MNDAA (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army) is trying to turn Lashio, a major city in northern Shan State, into a city like Chinshwehaw and Laukkai in Special Region (1).
After the MNDAA took control of Lashio city on July 26th of the previous year, locals have reported that drug trafficking and usage have become openly prevalent in the city. Additionally, prostitution businesses are now officially permitted with official licenses, and signboards, according to residents.
A local resident stated, "Lashio has now become the second Chinshwehaw. Businesses are officially opening in areas like beneath the temples and along the main roads into the city. They are being licensed and permitted to operate. KTVs, massage parlors, and brothels are advertising with pictures. Such advertisements featuring large images of women and neon signs are becoming quite common. This kind of promotion doesn’t align well with Myanmar's values and culture. In a city like Chinshwehaw, such things might be accepted, but in a place like Muse, it doesn't exist. The emergence of such things is definitely not a good sign."
Another resident told the Statesman Journal that the MNDAA has also allowed prostitution to take place in the barracks and buildings of the (959) Field Engineer Construction Battalion in the center of Lashio.
A local resident stated, "As far as I know, there is a construction battalion in the center of Lashio city. This military engineering construction battalion has been living in the residential barracks, and the officers' quarters are there as well. In the past, the barracks used by the Tatmadaw were designed in an official manner. Now, you can see similar developments in Ward 8. The local people don't like this, but at the moment, given that they control the area, there's nothing we can say. The main thing is that the locals can’t say anything about it, so it depends on them."
Currently, only a few MNDAA administrative members remain in Lashio, and there are reports that all MNDAA troops will leave Lashio on June 1.