Retired workers and their families in Namtu, northern Shan State, are facing growing uncertainty after the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) ordered residents of a long-established mining neighborhood to vacate their homes, according to local sources.

The directive targets residents of Mining Ward 4, where at least 10 houses have already been cleared, a local man told SHAN. The order has raised alarm among families who say they have lived in the area for generations.

“The TNLA, which currently administers the area, has ordered us to leave. No clear or justified reason has been provided. Initially, they said it was for residents’ safety, but now they are simply insisting that we must move,” the resident said.

The neighborhood is home to around 1,000 households, primarily comprising former employees, retirees, and families connected to the historic Namtu Bawdwin Mine—once internationally renowned during the British colonial era.

The term “Bawdwin” is derived from Burmese, in which “Baw” refers to fine or pure silver, reflecting the area’s legacy as a major silver-producing center.

Residents say their families have remained in these quarters through successive governments and continued to stay after the TNLA took control of Namtu during “Operation 1027” in late 2023.

Locals describe the evictions as a severe disruption to their livelihoods and long-standing ties to the land.

“We have lived here since our grandparents’ time. Our small plantations of danyin (dog fruit) and avocado trees are our main source of income. No one is happy about this sudden eviction—we have deep roots in this land,” the resident added.

The Bawdwin mine site, located about 14 miles west of Namtu, was seized by TNLA forces in December 2023. Since establishing administrative control, the group has reportedly been pressuring residents in Mining Ward 4 to relocate since April 2024, in some cases giving as little as 10 days’ notice.

While the TNLA’s Information Department previously told SHAN that the relocations were being carried out for security reasons, local residents and community sources now say the area may be cleared to resettle ethnic Ta’ang (Palaung) populations.

SHAN attempted to contact the TNLA’s Information Department for comment on these allegations but had not received a response at the time of publication.