Despite the Northeastern Regional Command in Lashio Town, and Military Operations Command No. 1 (MOC-1) in Kyaukme Town being seized from the junta, new junta commanders have been appointed to both captured commands.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing made the appointments on 12 August 2024.

The junta’s Northeastern Regional Command in northern Shan State’s Lashio Town fell to the Myanmar National Democracy Alliance Army (MNDAA) on 3 August. The command’s commander at the time, the newly-appointed Brigadier General Soe Hlaing became stranded in Muse Township, north of Lashio on the border with China, unable to return to Lashio.

Brigadier General Soe Hlaing, who used to command the Muse Town-based 99th Division had only very recently replaced Major General Soe Tint, who was suddenly fired by the junta. Despite this, Min Aung Hlaing replaced him on 12 August with his new appointment to the post, Major General Myint Kyaw Tun.

MOC-1 was captured by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) on 6 August, when it finally completed its capture of Kyaukme Town in northern Shan State. The commander of MOC-1 at the time, Brigadier General Myo Min Htwe, was arrested by the MNDAA in Lashio. He had been appointed to the post last year.

Min Aung Hlaing also appointed Colonel Hein Htet Naung, the director of the Defence Services Command and General Staff College in Kalaw Township, Shan State as the new commander of MOC-1 on 12 August, to replace the captured Myo Min Htwe.

A junta source said to SHAN: “Structurally, the towns of Hsipaw [a.k.a. Thibaw] and Muse, along with Namlan Village, which remain under junta control, are part of the Northeastern Regional Command’s territory. The two newly appointed commanders are expected to be based in Kholam in Namsang Township [in Shan State] to oversee military operations in these areas still under [junta] control.”