Departments under the Military Junta, known as the State Security and Peace Commission, have taken back most of the rice and cooking oil that the Shan State Chief Minister had donated to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lashio, Shan State.

IDPs in Lashio reported that on September 16, of the 140 sacks of rice donated by Junta-appointed Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung, only 20 sacks remained, while the remaining 120 were removed by subordinate departments under his authority.

“They made a show of donating it and told us not to touch it. Yesterday, they came and took back what they had donated. When they donated it, they said it was worth 14.8 million kyat (about 3,364 USD). Yesterday, they left only 20 sacks of rice and took 120 back. They even poured out the cooking oil and took back the empty bottles. The warehouse labor alone costs over 1 million kyat, and we don’t know who to ask for reimbursement,” a displaced woman in Lashio told SHAN.

On September 10, U Aung Aung visited Lashio and publicly distributed 140 sacks of rice, 70 viss of cooking oil, 45 boxes of noodles, and 45 cartons of eggs for IDPs at the Shan Literature and Culture Hall. However, displaced persons said they were instructed not to use the donated items, and on September 16, officials returned and removed most of them, leaving only a small portion.

A local source confirmed that the military has arrested three individuals who were assisting IDPs through the Shan Literature and Culture Association in Lashio. They are currently being held for interrogation.

The report was initially published on SHAN’s Burmese-language Facebook page on September 17 but was later removed due to security concerns.

Ongoing clashes between the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Military Council in the Nawng Ping area of Kyaukme Township, along with fears of airstrikes, have driven more people to seek shelter in Lashio, which is under Military Council control.

Currently, more than 1,000 IDPs are staying at the Shan Literature and Culture Hall, Upper Man Ai Monastery, Metta Aung Monastery compound, Man Su Monastery, and Basic Education High School No. 3. Aid workers say food and essential supplies are urgently needed.