Four days after an alliance of three ethnic armies opened an offensive against Myanmar’s military regime, fierce fighting raged on in Shan state on Monday, disrupting communications and transportation in the country’s northeast region, residents said. On Friday, the Northern Alliance or “Three Brotherhood Alliance” made up of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army simultaneously struck junta positions in the strategic Shan cities of Kunlong, Hseni, Chin Shwe Haw, Laukkaing, Namhkan, Kutkai, and Lashio – the state’s largest municipality. By Monday, alliance forces had seized major towns throughout northern Shan state as part of “Operation 1027” – named for the Oct. 27 date of the offensive – displacing at least 6,200 people in Hseni, Kutkai, Kyuakme, Lashio, and Muse townships. Some 5,000 of those who fled are taking shelter in religious compounds and the remainder have been forced to