A violent confrontation in the Mongsee area of Kutkai Township, Shan State, has left six dead and six injured after tensions between local villagers and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) escalated over controversial gold mining operations.

The clash erupted on the afternoon of March 5 when villagers from Pein Kham village protested against Chinese and Kokang forces mining gold near a critical water source. According to eyewitnesses, MNDAA troops opened fire on the unarmed protesters, resulting in multiple casualties.

“We went to stop the mining at our water source, but the Chinese workers didn’t understand Burmese, which led to confusion. During the scuffle, two Chinese soldiers were injured. We tried to leave peacefully, but the Kokang soldiers started shooting, killing six of us instantly,” a Mongsee resident told Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN).

The villagers had repeatedly appealed to the MNDAA to halt gold mining activities in the Nam Lin stream and surrounding farmlands, citing environmental and livelihood concerns. Despite their pleas, the MNDAA continued operations using heavy machinery, further fueling local anger.

Among the six killed were two alleged Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers, though this claim remains unverified. The victims were all men, and one of the injured later succumbed to their wounds while being transported to Kutkai Hospital.

In a powerful display of grief and defiance, residents from Pein Kham, Pan Yang Kha, and neighboring Shan and Kachin villages carried the bodies of the deceased to the MNDAA office in Mongsee on the evening of March 5. Protesters lit candles and chanted slogans demanding accountability for the killings.

“We are waiting for an explanation from the Kokang authorities. This cannot go unanswered,” another Mongsee resident told SHAN.

The incident has reignited long-standing tensions over gold mining in the region. Since January, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has allowed mining operations in Mong Yu Lay village, Kutkai Township, leading to rampant extraction by Chinese and Wa-linked companies. These activities have severely polluted the Nam Mao stream, turning its waters brown and rendering them unusable for local communities.

This is not the first time the MNDAA has been involved in violent clashes in the area. In December 2024, the group reportedly attacked a KIA-affiliated army camp near Pan Yang Kha village without warning, sparking further conflict between the two factions.

As villagers continue to gather at the MNDAA office, their demands for justice and an investigation into the shooting of unarmed protesters grow louder. The incident underscores the escalating tensions between local communities and armed groups over resource exploitation, with environmental degradation and human lives hanging in the balance.

The international community is now watching closely as calls for accountability and sustainable practices in the region intensify.