The Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army – South (RCSS/SSA-S) held a preliminary meeting at the China-Myanmar border on January 22 to resolve the conflict between the two armed groups, according to the PSLF/TNLA.
“The preliminary meeting was held to discuss the ongoing conflict and how to solve it. It was a preliminary meeting for the meeting,” said Major Mai Aik Kyaw, information officer of the PSLF/TNLA.
In a statement issued on January 26, the PSLF/TNLA said that the two armed groups have agreed to continue the discussion between the senior leaders in order to end the fighting and find a solution to the ongoing conflicts.
However, the date for the next meeting has not been set even though both armed groups have agreed to hold a meeting between their leaders, according to Major Mai Aik Kyaw.
“We need to negotiate the date. We haven’t agreed on the date; however we have agreed to meet again,” he explained.
The joint secretary, allied relations officer, and a military officer represented the PSLF/TNLA while the RCSS/SSA-S’s side included a central committee member and two military officers.
Although no heavy fighting has broken out between the PSLF/TNLA and the RCSS/SSA-S at the moment, clashes still break out irregularly between them, according to the PSLF/TNLA.
The PSLF/TNLA and the RCSS/SSA-S engaged in fighting in early January and local residents from the conflict area had to flee to nearby towns.
Two clashes broke out between the armies under PSLF/TNLA Division 2 and the RCSS/SSA-S in lower Kite Tai Village under Namhsan Township on January 18. Another clash broke out between Taw Phe Village of Kyaukme Township and Kyat Tay (Kite Tai) Village from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm on the next day.
After the RCSS/SSA-S signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement on October 15, 2015, armed clashes broke out between the RCSS/SSA-S and the PSLF/TNLA in the northern Shan State.
