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Myanmar reopens two border gates in Laukkai region

Xinhua, March 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar authorities has reopened two border gates that was shut down during the period of armed conflicts in Laukkai, the capital of Kokang region in northeastern Shan state, as Laukkai restores peace and stability, the military- run Myawaddy Daily said on Saturday.

A total of 180 internally displaced people have returned to Laukkai through border post No. 125 and Yanlonkyaing border checkpoint on Friday, Myawaddy said.

So far, there is a total of 2,746 people from 946 households who have returned home, the report said.

The government stressed the need to restore peace and stability and prevalence of law and order in the region to ensure security and to undertake rehabilitation tasks in respective sectors.

The government claimed stability has been restored in Laukkai, but said some sporadic clashes with the Kokang ethnic army still occurred over the last few days as the government forces continued to comb their areas of hide-out near Laukkai.

The government forces claimed earlier that they could occupy a number of strategic hills in Kokang region in their fresh offensive over last weekend against the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) with heavy weapons, forcing it to retreat from Point-1789 Hill where they based.

Due to the occupation of these hills, the government could reopen the Laukkai-Kongyan communication route to secure transport.

Heavy fighting first broke out on Feb. 9 between government forces and the MNDAA in Kokang region. The battlefield mainly covered areas of Laukkai, Koneyan and Yan Lone Kyaine of Kokang region.

As a result of the armed conflicts, thousands of local people took shelter in Lashio, a big city in Shan State in the northeast and neighboring China. Endi