Locals Struggle to Communicate After Military Seizes Starlink Devices in Lung Sha Yang Area

Pajau Media

6 February 2026

After the military seized Starlink devices from Lung Sha Yang Village in Putao, locals are reportedly facing difficulties in communication due to the lack of Wi-Fi internet within the village.

"After the SAC army camp leader in Lung Sha Yang was shot, they took away the Wi-Fi devices. Without the line, communication has become extremely difficult. When we had Starlink, we could also contact people abroad. Now, without phone lines, it feels like we are living in the dark," said a resident from Lung Sha Yang, who had recently arrived in Myitkyina.

In Putao Township, while some people were able to recover devices by paying a fee after the military confiscation, in Lung Sha Yang Village, residents have not been allowed to reclaim them even by paying. Due to the lack of phone lines, communication with children or relatives living far away has become increasingly restricted, a resident said.

The incident in which the Lung Sha Yang camp leader was shot occurred last January. It is reported that the shooting may have been a result of residents’ reporting activities. Following this event, the military has continued to confiscate Starlink devices, and the situation remains ongoing.

As the military situation grows increasingly tense day by day, the disruption of communication has become a significant challenge for the residents, with Lung Sha Yang Village in Putao Township currently having no access to the internet.

The military presence in Putao Township has increased, and the area near Tan Ja Village, close to Lung Sha Yang, remains tense due to ongoing military operations.

News: Pilan U