An unknown ethnic force attacked a government battalion based in Hsipaw Township, Northern Shan State for about an hour on 4 May.
About 50 soldiers from an unknown force attacked Burma Army Infantry Battalion 23 based near Toan-Sant Village north of Hsipaw Township between 3pm and 9pm on 4 May.
A person close to the Battalion 23 told S.H.A.N. News: “One soldier died and four were injured from the government side. Most of their soldiers went to fight elsewhere, so it is possible that they [the unknown attackers] might have noticed that there were only a few soldiers guarding the battalion headquarters and so decided to attack.”
An unconfirmed source said that the unknown forces that attacked Battalion 23 were forces from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The TNLA Information Department said that the TNLA had attacked a government convoy between Pyinoolwin and Mogok townships on the morning of 4 May and that their troops had fought with Burma Army forces army between Monglong and Kyaukme townships at 6pm on 4 May. None of their announcements mentioned the attack on the Battalion 23 headquarters.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
