With Hsipaw arson, TNLA branded as ‘guest insulting host’
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Phyo (NP News) - Oct 20
A politician in northern Shan State told The Statesman that the actions of the defeated TNLA insurgents who burned down government buildings and people’s houses in Hsipaw were “the actions of a guest insulting his host.”
It is reported that the TNLA rebels burned down government buildings and people's homes in Hsipaw and fled, according to a statement from the National Security and Peace Commission.
The TNLA terrorist group and the DPLA and PDF terrorist insurgents have temporarily taken control of Hsipaw and its surrounding areas in Shan State (North) and are carrying out terrorist activities. As a result, the Tatmadaw columns are working to retake Hsipaw and its surrounding areas. On the evening of October 16, when they arrived at the Toll Gate at the entrance to Hsipaw, they found smoke coming from the city and entered the town to clear it. The terrorist insurgents brutally burned down departmental buildings in Hsipaw, including the Prison Department, the General Administration Office, the Land Registry Office, the Hsipaw Hotel, and other departmental buildings and homes of the public, and fled.
Therefore, the statement said that the military personnel are continuing to extinguish the fire and carry out necessary security operations in the area to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings.
According to the above-mentioned source, the TNLA has committed this act of burning down three times before fleeing from defeated towns.
“The Palaungs have burned down three towns. They burned down all three towns: Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, and Hsipaw before fleeing,” he said.
When asked why they burned down their defeated cities and fled, the source replied, "They did it because their dream of establishing a Ta'ang state had been shattered."
The residents said they no longer want such acts of violence, such as burning down public buildings and their houses, as well as they do not want to experience such incidents again.
"I don't want to see this happen again. I don't want this kind of action, I don't want violence. I don't want the class that supports this kind of violence," the source said.
Furthermore, “Since they burned down three towns, their actions have become associated with their ethnic identity, causing hatred among the locals. It became like an ethnic conflict,” he said.
The source also revealed that it is difficult to live together with the Palaung people who have a violent spirit.
“We have a union spirit. They do not have a union spirit. Therefore, it is impossible for us to live together. It is a form of a guest trying to take over the house from the host, instead of just being a guest,” he said.
Furthermore, the source continued that their violent mentality is already evident, adding, “You can see their true attitude online. They say things like, ‘How little impact is caused by burning.’”
The Tatmadaw conducted counter-terrorism operations to retake control of towns/villages temporarily controlled by the TNLA terrorist group and the DPLA and PDF terrorist insurgents. The Tatmadaw finally regained control of Nawnghkio on July 16, 2025, and Kyaukme on October 1. The government, the Tatmadaw, and the local people are working together to rebuild and develop the region.