Despite signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement, the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army – South (RCSS/SSA-S) has clashed four times with the Tatmadaw within this month, according to the RCSS/SSA-S.
“We have fought four times on the 3rd (January 3), the 6th (January 6), and the 7th (January 7),” said Lt-Col Sai Mein, spokesperson of the RCSS/SSA-S.
The RCSS/SSA-S said three clashes took place in Loilen and Mong Ping townships and one clash took place in Kyethi Township.
Lt-Col Sai Mein said the Tatmadaw attacked the RCSS/SSA-S in their areas.
“They deliberately attacked our outposts to crash us. Our troops are in Kyethi and Mong Ping area in the eastern Shan State. We have been stationed there since in the past. They deliberately attacked us in the areas where our troops have been assigned. At one outpost, there were only four soldiers when they came to assault us. They (the Tatmadaw) shot fire while the soldiers were eating lunch,” he said.
The office of the Tatmadaw’s Commander-in-Chief has not released anything about the clashes.
The RCSS/SSA-S accused the Tatmadaw of failing to follow the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).
“They don’t follow and respect the ceasefire agreements because they can meet with us or contact us. There are liaison offices. They attacked us even though they could contact us so it seems that they don’t follow the ceasefire agreements,” said Lt-Col Sai Mein.
The Tatmadaw and the RCSS/SSA-S have clashed 27 times since the signing of the NCA in 2015, according to the RCSS/SSA-S.
