Burma Army Fight With RCSS/SSA Near China Border
Over a hundred civilians fled to China after fighting allegedly ensued between Burma Army and Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) in Namkham Township in Burma’s northern Shan State along the Chinese border.
A resident of Namkham town said villagers of Hark Hing fled when they heard fighting on August 4, returning home by the following day. One of the villagers was shot. Some are still waiting in China to make sure the conflict is really over.
"I don't know which forces are shooting each other. Some say the clash was between the Burma Army and RCSS/SSA, but I don't know who it was. We can only confirm there were clashes and the villagers fled."
NMG called Tatmadaw's True News Information Team for comment, but no one responded.
On August 5, Lt-Col Sao Oum Khur, RCSS/SSA spokesperson, confirmed with NMG there was shooting. But he couldn't confirm if his soldiers fought with Tatmadaw the previous day. "We haven't received a field report from our troops...As far as I can tell, they (Burma Army) sent more than 400 soldiers to the area and residents fled from their village. I don't have a lot of details about the clash."
From the third week of June to July, the Burma Army fought RCSS/SSA at least 20 times in Kyaukme Township. Lt-Col Sao Oum Khur said they fought with Tatmadaw near Ner Kawng Muu village, located in Pongpa Kyin Township, in eastern Shan State, on June 2, and in Hsipaw Township in northern Shan State on June 10.
RCSS/SSA is a signatory of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.
