Army Occupies MongkoeCeasefire pact terminated

Army Occupies MongkoeCeasefire pact terminated

Reporter: Saeng Khao Haeng

The ceasefire agreement with the Mongkoe Defense Army came to a bloody end when Rangoon forces unleashed a campaign last Thursday that destroyed both its warring factions, reported a S.H.A.N. source from the north. 
Troops from the Northeastern Command i.e. IB 45 the (Kutkhai), IB 242 (Kutkhai), IB 290, LIB 312 (Kunlong) according to Dr. Naing Aung, member of National Council of the Union of Burma, together with 2 artillery batteries (believed to be Battery 076 from Kutkhai and Battery 083 from Kunlong) entered Mongkoe, Muse District near the Chinese border on 23 November. 

The following day, the invading troops opened fire on both factions of the MDA who were fighting. The same day (another source said on 25 November) the Army attacked Huey Monglong near Mongkoe with heavy guns, killing 89 (Dr. Naing Aung says 97), among whom was Li Niming, one of the two leaders of the mutiny. By the end of 25 November, the Army was in control. 

Col. Tin Hlaing, Minister of Interior, visited the area the next day and at the time of this reporting (29 November) he is still in Muse, the district seat. 

Mong Sala's fate is not known, though he is believed to be still alive. As for the other mutiny leader, Khong Lao Su or Hong Lao Su, he is believed to have escaped across the border. 

The mutiny was reported to be supported by one of the Kokang factions and the United Wa State Army. 
The United Wa State Army, in the meanwhile, is cooperating with Rangoon to launch an operation against Yawdserk's Shan State Army further south near the Thai border.