The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has begun organizing a militia group in Hopang Township, northern Shan State to coordinate with its newly established administration there. This comes after the township was seized by the Brotherhood Alliance early this year and subsequently handed over to the UWSA.

He also pointed out that though Hopang and Panlong were initially handed over to it(Wa State Army) by the Brotherhood Alliance, the UWSA has only been able to establish its administration in the towns under an official agreement with the regime. “Otherwise, the town would be bombed!” he said.