Lashio was once again shaken by an explosion on Monday, according to a local source. The town, located in northern Shan State, has experienced numerous bombings and armed attacks since the coup.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, reported that the recent explosion occurred at 8 pm, causing no injuries. Notably, the incident happened on the same day as another attack on Fine Furniture in Ward 8, where unknown assailants opened fire. A few days earlier, a separate explosion had taken place at the same shop.
Lashio has witnessed a series of bomb explosions within shops, hotels, and public places, leading to the unfortunate death of at least eight civilians and injuring 41 people this year alone.
Another anonymous source pointed out that the ethnic armed groups might be responsible for the attacks, speculating that these incidents might be related to extortion efforts. The source explained that various armed groups demand money from businesses, regardless of their size. Those who fail to comply risk their shops becoming targets.
Year after year, multiple armed groups, including the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and Kachin Independence Army, have reportedly engaged in money collection within the town.
An anonymous youth activist noted the presence of both the People’s Militia Force and People’s Defense Force in Lashio, with the former aligned with the military regime and the latter actively opposing the dictatorship.
The dire situation in Lashio has created significant challenges for locals while the police find it difficult to apprehend the culprits responsible due to their inability to maintain security in the town. Following each explosion, the police typically converge on the scene, block roads, and check individuals in the area while sometimes confiscating people’s motorcycles. However, they never succeed in identifying or capturing those behind the attacks.
The severity of the situation has pushed local businesses to remove their signage from the front of their shops, as a desperate measure to avoid extortion attempts.
