While some parents are sending their children back to schools that have been closed since teachers and students went on strike in protest against the military regime more than a year ago, the Burma Army (BA), police and proxy group, People’s Militia Force (PMF), have deployed guards outside schools in Nam Kham in northern Shan State, while rival ethnic armed groups (EAG) patrol in and around the town.

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The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which is fighting the BA, was spotted on a hill near Nam Kham market on 6 June, according to an anonymous source, where many traders have closed their stalls because they don’t want to pay taxes to the armed group. He said they opened their shops the next day but attracted few customers.

Parents are worried about the safety of their children given the presence of the armed soldiers at schools that opened on 2 June.

The Kachin Independence Army and the Shan State Progress Party, as well as TNLA, BA and PMF are also present on the hills around Nam Kham and along the Nam Mao (Shweli) River in the township of the same name.