The Tatmadaw or Myanmar Military issued a statement which says the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) forcibly took animals and motorcycles from villagers, merchandise from shops in Namtu and then they destroyed them by setting them on, and a villager was beaten without any reason but the TNLA has denied it.

The TNLA said that combined forces of Palaung State Liberation Front and Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) did not forcibly take provisions and merchandise or cause arson in villages.

General Secretary of PSLF/TNLA Brig. Gen. Tar Bone Kyaw said, “We didn’t do these things. The combined forces of the SSPP and TNLA can manage to get our ownfood. If we have to buy food we always pay a reasonable price to the villagers. We never do such things.”

The press statement issued by the Tatmadaw said that in this incident the combined forces of about 100 personnel from the TNLA/SSA entered this area from August 5 to 7 and they forcibly took some belongings of the villagers and they destroyed them by setting them on fire.

Regarding this incident, Shan State legislative assembly legislator from Namtu constituency Nan San Huan said, “We heard this news.” But which organization actually carried out these acts is not known and cannot be confirmed.