A TNLA official says the latest clash comes amid a dramatic ramp-up of offensives in the surrounding area.

The December 6 Namtu skirmish lasted around an hour-and-a-half and started in the morning at about 10am, said Major Mai Aik Kyaw, an information officer for the PSLF/TNLA.

The skirmish broke out with the Tatmadaw’s 344th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB-344) near Ho Nar Village, he said.

The fighting following on the heels of another incident the night before, according to a Namtu resident.

Maj Mai Aik Kyaw disputed the resident’s account and claimed that the December 6 attack marked the end of a three-week hiatus in the clashes.

He added that the PSLF/TNLA expects the fighting to continue to escalate since the Tatmadaw has launched offensives in all areas where the ethnic armed organization is active.

“The number of offensives is quite high. They have been launched in Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Mogok, Namhsan, Manton, Mongmit, Kutkai, Namtu, and Namhkan,” said Maj Mai Aik Kyaw “There are too many offensives in all the areas where we are active. Fighting may break out everywhere.”

The PSLF/TNLA is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), which is led by the United Wa State Party/United Wa State Army (UWSA/UWSP). Also known as the Northern Alliance, the FPNCC has declared that it is willing to negotiate with the government, but will not be signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), the government’s hallmark peace deal.