Some of the 200 political prisoners, who were released from Lashio Prison after the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) freed them on July 28, told DVB that they fear retaliation from the regime when it returns to re-administer Lashio Township of northern Shan State later this month.

A former political prisoner told DVB on the condition of anonymity that he is considering relocating from Lashio to Laukkai, the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone (SAZ), which is located 117 miles (188 km) northeast of Lashio. and 361 miles (580 km) north of the Shan State capital Taunggyi. Since Oct. 27, 2023, the MNDAA has re-taken control of the Kokang SAZ, and has seized nine other towns in northern Shan.

Former civil servants who refused to work under the regime, which seized power after the 2021 military coup, and joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) told the MNDAA that they will relocate to other towns under MNDAA control, excluding Laukkai. No reason was given as to why members of the CDM refused to relocate from Lashio to Laukkai. 

The MNDAA claimed that many former political prisoners and members of the CDM served in its administration in Lashio. A source close to the MNDAA told DVB that it will withdraw from Lashio as the final stage of the China-brokered ceasefire agreement, which was reached between the MNDAA and the regime on Jan. 18.

The regime and the MNDAA will jointly administer Lashio with China’s consular office acting as a mediator, a source told DVB. Naypyidaw will control 12 neighbourhoods in Lashio while the MNDAA will administer areas outside of the city, the source added. Neither the MNDAA nor the regime have made any official announcement.