The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Burma Army, or Tatmadaw as it’s locally called, have clashed about 30 times in the last 3 months with fighting breaking out 10 times in March alone.
Maj Aik Kyaw, in charge of the TNLA information department, said: “Fighting often happens in our area. The main cause of this conflict is the Tatmadaw’s offensives.”
Aik Kyaw said clashes broke out on Wednesday in Mong Lon sub-township, located in Kyaukme township, between the villages Shwe Nyaung Pin and Tan Tay.
“The Tatmadaw launched many offensives against our soldiers on multiple fronts and it’s why the fighting is happening. They are trying to chase us down and they attacked us yesterday when we were in the jungle,” Aik Kyaw told NMG.
Aik Kyaw expects the Tatmadaw’s offensives to continue after it began reinforcing troops in Kutkai, Namkham, Mangton and Namhsan.
NMG tried to reach the Tatmadaw’s True News Information Team for comment but no-one responded.
Aik Kyaw said political dialogue between all of the stakeholders can end the fighting, and his organisation will continue to negotiate for this with the government and the Army. “If we have mutual trust during peace talks we won’t have any more clashes.”
The TNLA and other members of the Northern Alliance are ready to talk peace, Aik Kyaw said.
Despite the Tatmadaw’s offensives, the Three Brotherhoods Alliance, which includes the TNLA, Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, has extended its unilateral ceasefire.
