A Ta'ang armed group said it fought with the Burma Army (aka Tatmadaw) many times in early November despite initiating an unilateral ceasefire with other members of an ethnic alliance.
"The highest number of clashes occurred in Kutkai township in northern Shan State. Fighting also happened in Namhsan and Namkham township too. Why are the clashes happening? It's because they're (Tatmadaw) entering our areas and attacking us," said Maj. Mai Aik Kyaw, in charge of Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta'ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA).
According to the major, there have been at least 5 clashes between November 1 to 6.
Full-blown battles with the Tatmadaw have been avoided because the PSLF/TNLA is refusing to retaliate against their offenses, he said. But if the Army keeps attacking them it will negatively impact the unilateral ceasefire they and other groups in the Northern Alliance have initiated.
"Fighting is not the solution. We have to seek a solution through negotiation and dialogue,” Mai Aik Kyaw said, commenting that lately there's been more clashes than dialogue.
The other members of the Northern Alliance are the Kachin Independence Organisation, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Arakan Army.
The Northern Alliance wants to meet with the Tatmadaw and government for negotiations but an agreement about when and where the meeting will be needs to be decided.
The formation of a ceasefire monitoring group and repositioning of troops is imperative for removing the deadlocks blocking peace, according to the Northern Alliance.
