The Burma Army has increased its military activity in areas controlled by the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), according to the PSLF/TNLA.
Major Mai Aik Kyaw, the PSLF/TNLA information officer, said: “Normally, they (the Burma Army) don’t enter the [areas of the] forest where we are active. They have been very active these days. They are moving round in our area.”
N.M.G. has learned that since the beginning of the month the Burma Army has been reinforcing troops and sending in extra supplies of food and ammunition into the area.
According to Major Mai Aik Kyaw the Burma Army has been active in Kyaukme, Namhsan, Hsipaw, Namtu, Mantong, Mongmit, Mogok, Kutkai, Namhkam, and Muse, all areas where the PSLF/TNLA is already active.
The PSLF/TNLA clashed with the Burma Army on 14 September, but the situation has calmed down over the past few days.
Major Mai Aik Kyaw said that it would not be possible to implement the peace process smoothly while clashes continue to occur. He said that the clashes could also lead to further unwanted conflict and a bad rapport between the Burma Army and the PSLF/TNLA, though the number of clashes would reduce if the Burma Army stops launching military offensives.
Major Mai Aik Kyaw also claimed that the clashes were not instigated by the PSLF/TNLA and that they only happened because the Burma Army was entering areas under PSLF/TNLA control.
Although the situation is stabilising in the PSLF/TNLA controlled areas earlier this month [September 2016] there were clashes between the PSLF/TNLA and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA).
The PSLF/TNLA have not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) whereas the RCSS/SSA are one of the eight ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) to have signed the NCA.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
