Myanmar: Government warns of imminent terrorist attack in Shan State

Event

Media sources reported on Tuesday, July 11, that government forces passed out leaflets in the city of Lashio in Shan State warning of an imminent terrorist attack by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The leaflets warned that the local railway station, government buildings, and public markets were all potential targets for bombings, and included pictures of reported victims of the two militant groups.  According to local residents, government forces have increased the amount of patrols and armored vehicles in Lashio.

According to the government flyers, six men and four women from the KIA had been deployed to Lashio to carry out a bombing. They also claim that 20 expert bomb-makers have been sent to Lashio to find targets. While a military official stated on Monday, July 10, that the leaflets were intended to help keep citizens safe, a spokesman for the KIA denied any claims of an imminent terrorist attack and stated that the group does not target civilians.

Context

The ongoing conflict erupted in Shan state in November 2016 after the Northern Alliance (comprising the KIA, the Arakan Army, the TNLA, and the MNDAA) launched an attack on a government outpost and police station in the region. Although the government signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with eight ethnic groups in October 2015, it has consistently denied the inclusion of the MNDAA (and five other ethnic organizations) in the initial signing of the agreement. Due to ongoing fighting along the border with China in the Kokang area of Shan state, the government maintains that bilateral ceasefires first need to be signed with the MNDAA.

Some 40,000 people fled the Kokang region in February 2015 after the Myanmar army launched an offensive in northern Shan state against the MNDAA. Violent clashes took place through May 2015.

Advice

Individuals present in the affected areas are advised to remain vigilant and to adhere to all instructions issued by authorities.

As a precautionary measure, many Western governments and Myanmar authorities advise travelers against all but essential travel to Rakhine state except the southern townships of Kyaukpyu, Ramree, Munaung, Toungup, Thandwe (including the tourist resort of Ngapali), and Gwa. Individuals present in western Myanmar should avoid nonessential travel to the region bordering Bangladesh.