On 13 May, on a highway linking with Sino-Burma border, at Namkham, a shootout incident has occurred between a unit of Myanmar police and Panhsay militia men, following some arguments among themselves in which the case involve a deal on illegal logging business, according to local news sources.

During the shootout, 2 policemen and a man died at the spot, and 3 others sustained injuries. It is not known as to who the culprit behind the incident, as no one claims responsibility. But the Panhsay militia could have been involved in the attack, said some locals.

“Police were on duty for security on the highway in which logging trucks owned by Panhsay militia were passing through. The shootout took place after negotiations between police and militia failed to reach agreement. Another shooting incident also occurred at a Shwe gas pipeline project site. Although no one has claimed responsibility, people say it could have been the same group as in the first incident. They want to make it look as if a certain armed group has done so,” said local news sources in Namkham.

“The incident site is on a highway passing through Namkham from Mankawn to the Chinese border; this highway is used to smuggle logs to China owned by the Panhsay militia group,” said another local man from Namkham.

“According to some eye-witnesses it was the Panhsay militia men that started the shooting. A moment ago, there was negotiation for a deal for using the highway as logging trade between police and the militia men which lasted for 5 minutes. The shooting incident took place as the deal could not be reached. The Panhsay exports the logs using this highway. The police force are collecting taxes from a betel shop on Wipula Road. The Panhsay militia men do this logging business. U Kyaw Myint, leader of the Panhsay People’s Militia Force (PMF) and Shan State Assembly MP, and his brother Kyaw Htwe are the bosses in the business. All the log produced from Mankwan are monopolized by the two brothers,” said another local news sources.

 At the shooting incident, Sai Sar Aung, a brother of an MP, People’s Assembly, died and policemen Aung Myint, Pha Aung and Matan suffered injuries.