S.H.A.N. has learnt that forces from the Burma Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) fought with each between Pan-San and Hu-Kwet village in Kyaukme Township in Northern Shan State on 7 April.
The fighting was between about 100 Burma Army soldiers under the command of Brigade 77 and about 20 TNLA soldiers from Battalion 987 under the command of TNLA Brigade 2.
Colonel Tar Aik Kyaw from the TNLA information department said: “The battle started at 6.45am. After half an hour of fighting two government soldiers were dead and another two were injured. There were no casualties on the TNLA side. The fighting was in an area we control.”
In March a Burma Army column arrested 10 Kyauk Phyu villagers and made them do forced labour in the Kyaukme Township area according to a resident from Kyaukme Township.
Col. Tar Aik Kyaw said: “If the government army is strengthening its forces in ethnic nationality areas it will be difficult to get the nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signed. If all sides want political dialogue as soon as possible, we want the government to withdraw their forces as soon as possible.”
The TNLA said that their forces have already fought over 80 battle clashes with government forces since the beginning of 2015.
The TNLA are members of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) formed by ethnic armed organisations and have been active in Northern Shan State. They have not yet signed a ceasefire agreement with the government.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
