TNLA forces residents by threatening fines and imprisonment for not hoisting Palaung flag in Namtu
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Eain (NP News) - Jan 12
It has been reported that residents of Namtu Township and Mansan Village, Shan State, are experiencing difficulties as a result of the TNLA's imposition of a requirement that all houses display the Palaung flag for the Palaung National Revolution Day that will fall on January 12, 2025, under penalty of fines and one month's imprisonment.
Local residents, especially daily wage earners, are reportedly struggling to afford Palaung flags, which are selling for between 10,000 and 15,000 kyats in the market, according to a local source.
An incident also occurred on the recent Kachin Revolution Day (February 5, 2024), in which the TNLA forces unjustly removed Kachin national flags displayed at the homes of Kachin residents in Kutkai town.
Local residents report that, in a similar incident on December 1, 2024, the TNLA forces unlawfully removed a Kachin national flag hoisted at a school in Kutkai Township and subsequently occupied the school as a military base.
In the territory of Namtu, the manner and actions of TNLA insurgents were disliked by residents since there are also other ethnicities in addition to Palaung ethnic people.
“On the TNLA anniversary, they forced us to put up the TNLA flag. They forced us to put it up in every house in every village. If we don’t, we have to pay a fine of 120,000 Kyat. There are things like that. They made every house in the villages in Namtu Township raise the flag. They even said that if we don’t, we will be fined,” said a local man from northern Shan State.
Therefore, the residents are struggling with difficulties even though they do not accept the order by TNLA but the situation is unbearable. –