The Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) chair Sai Aik Pao urged the two leaders of the Shan State Army to cooperate in solving the difficulties the local residents are facing due to the military conflict in the northern Shan State.
“This is the time to work on the farms. It’s the time to work in the agricultural workplace. The local residents of the northern Shan State have to abandon their farms and take refuge from the fighting. If they can’t plant at this time, they will face difficulty next year. That’s why as the CSSU's chair, I want to earnestly request the two leaders of the Shan State Army, Gen Pang Fa and Gen Yawd Serk, to join hands and solve the difficulties the local residents are facing because of the military conflict,” the CSSU’s chair Sai Aik Pao told the Shan Herald.
The CSSU released a statement on July 21 concerning this issue.
Around 2,000 local residents had to take refuge in Man San Monastery in Namtu and Aung Mingalar Boedaw and Moe Tay monasteries in Hsipaw Township due to the clashes in Namtu Township last week. The majority of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) were women and children.
“The two leaders should meet in order to have cooperation between the two armies. There will be lesser trust if they are distant. They live far from each other so they have lesser amity. An issue is something that needs to be solved. Fighting is not throwing [each other] with flowers. These are bullets that can kill [people]. The Shan people have to flee to Thailand and China from the fighting and work there. [The number of] our countrymen are decreasing. I want them (the two SSA leaders) to give a long consideration. If the leaders are busy, I want them to form a committee and discuss,” said Sai Aik Pao.
Although the IDPs have returned home on July 20, local residents are concerned that the clashes can break out anytime near the villages since the ethnic armed organizations have been contending for regional control.
Namtu resident Sai Sai said sounds of gunfire were heard again in the forest area of Wang Mai Hway Village near Pang Kut Village of Namtu Township in the morning of July 23.
Although the RCSS/SSA announced that the SSPP/SSA has been joining the Northern Alliance in the military conflict, the SSPP/SSA has not confirmed anything.
