“The fighting in Namkhan started around 1:30pm. The fighting broke out as the Infantry Division 88 and 45 marched into our area; it lasted nearly an hour. The fighting in Kut Kai continued much longer, beginning from the morning until late in the evening. The fighting in Namkham area was more severe and at least about seven or eight troops were killed from the government force,” said Mai Phone Kyaw.

The TNLA claimed that many government troops were killed and injured in the clash that took place in the upper part of Pan Kha Village of Namkham Township, but independent confirmation by Pophtaw News has yet to be made.

TNLA secretary Mai Phone Kyaw also stated that despite the ongoing peace negotiation by government’s Union Peace Working Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic groups’ Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) to draft the ceasefire agreement, peace would be determined by the offensives by Myanmar Army to the ethnic armed groups.

“A nationwide ceasefire will be very difficult to achieve under these circumstances. By looking to the points made by the military leaders in the last peace negotiation and the recent clashes, I can say that there is no desire for peace from the side of Myanmar army,” said Mai Phone Kyaw.

Mai Phone Kyaw also asserted that UPWC and some other ethnic armed groups have negotiated and agreed on a plenary ceasefire, but no ceasefire agreement was ever signed between the TNLA and the government.

U Hla Maung Shwe, the government peace mediator, stated that frequent armed clashes between the army and the ethnic armed groups creates a more difficult situation for UPWC to work for peace, and so it prolongs peace process.  

“The peace process might have prospects of setbacks, but we must continue working. We must make sure that the peace process is ongoing. There might be both progress and setbacks, but in the overall development, we are continuing the process, and we must continue negotiating,” said U Hla Maung Shwe.
Mai Phone Kyaw said that the government army is increasing its forces in the TNLA operation areas with some changes in their movement pattern.

TNLA/PSLF and UPWC had held an informal meeting in Muse at the end of July this year  where the TNLA/PSLF had discussed nine points regarding de-escalating armed conflict. However, the parties were able to discuss only the issues regarding the ceasefire agreement and no important military issues was discussed in the meeting.

The Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) was established in 2005 with the setting up of its armed wing, Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). PSLF/TNLA main operations are based in the Northern Shan State of Mong Ton, Kut Kai, Namkham, and Nangsan Townships.