Local people pottered during the war

On March 29, 2011, from 6 PM to 9 PM local time, the Shan State Army North (SSAN) and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) again fought at Pankhar Mountain near above Manloi village, Manloi village group, Namshan Township after they contestedat between Manngai village and Manlang village, Namlin group, Namshan Township, Kyaume restrict, Northern Shan State on March 28, 2011.
“On March 28, after the Maingai war, with some the SPDC armies and militia group which leaded by U TunMyat Lay from Ngaunsai village, Namshan Township together attacked on the way Shan armies will come on. The Shan armies were about 60 to 80 but we don’t know exactly the numbers of the SPDC soldiers. At that day, Lashio command reinforcement with three cars went to the happened war place to Manloi village” said villagers.
A local people said that the SPDC brought people and cars for porters during the period of the war. “On March 29, two cars have been portered in order to take soldiers in Kyawme. One car is from Ko Jain from Homain village and another car is unknown name. They left these soldiers in Homain village. Now, soldiers are at temporary camps in Manmai” said the local man.
“At the same time, the SPDC from Manton Township battalion (BI – 130)called the Palaung militia group and portered five villagers from Mantart village for carrying mortar and other heavy weapons in order to attack the upcoming of the Shan State Army North from Mantart village, Namkham Town and to stop their ways” said a witness.
On March 29 the SSAN moved back to Pantoung village and covered their tracks after the Pankhar war but the military blockaded the long way in Nammato and did sentry duty everywhere. However, from April 1 to 2, the war situation stopped.
“Local civilians were in trouble situation from the cause of the war conflict”said a tea farm owner. “Now,people from villages call workers for plucking tea as this is the ShwePeOo tea period. However, the workers went back to their hometown because they were afraid of this war. We cannot pick the tea and we lost money we already spent on workers’ transportation. Now, many families lost their tea as the tea is over mature. Many families depend on the ShwePeOo tea but they have to face a trouble in this year” said the man.