Junta soldiers’ families leaving Pyin Oo Lwin Town in Mandalay Region

Mizzima
The families of junta troops stationed in Pyin Oo Lwin Town, Mandalay Region have been leaving the town and relocating since 2 November, according to local residents.
It is believed that they are moving because of the ongoing conflict between junta forces and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Shan State’s Nawnghkio Township, just 31 miles away from Pyin Oo Lwin.
A resident said: “We observed family members inside military vehicles leaving the Defence Service Academy (DSA). Many of them are heading towards Mandalay. In addition, we witnessed them departing with both small and large vehicles from Bogyote Village. Their departure doesn’t appear to be chaotic; they are leaving in organised groups. Recently, we’ve been seeing them leave almost daily.”
There is ongoing fighting in Nawnghkio Town and the surrounding areas.
In Pyin Oo Lwin civilians are carrying on with their normal daily routines, whereas the junta military is reportedly on high alert.
On 1 November, fighters from the Northern Alliance and Mandalay People’s Defence Force (PDF) attacked a junta convoy of about 150 soldiers in 30 vehicles and two armoured vehicles traveling from Pyin Oo Lwin to Nawnghkio Town.
There was fierce fighting, which resulted in one of the armoured vehicles being destroyed and the defence forces capturing a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition, according to Mandalay PDF.