The strongest faction of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’, the First Brigade, still refusing to transform to the Naypyitaw-controlled home guard force, has been ordered to withdraw all its forces positioned near motorways and the Burmese Army outposts, according to sources in the First Brigade.

The First Brigade has been gearing up its forces, supplies and weapons to defend itself against a possible onslaught by the Burmese Army since the end of April, when two of its sister brigades: 3rd and 7th  consented to transform to the home guard force.

On 13 May, in accordance with the order from Colonel Chit Oo, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Region Command, Kunhing Area Commander sent a message to the faction to pull out all forces and to keep regional stability until the elections are over, said the source.

In addition, the commander also urged the faction to shun any activity that could create hostilities between the two sides.

But another source from Tangyan Township said the junta itself has yet to stop reinforcing its troops and weapons to areas surrounding the faction’s main base at Wanhai, Kehsi Township.

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“The commander said they are worried their top officials will come to see our forces still defiant,” a senior officer from the First Brigade told SHAN.

“But they did not mention any more about the 12 May deadline given to us on 7 May,” he said.

On 7 May, some representative from the First Brigade and some junta officials led by Colonel Chit Oo met in Kunhing Township, where the Shan State Army (SSA) North’s 7th brigade is based, over the faction’s negative response to Naypyitaw Border Guard Force (BGF).

Anyhow, the faction was given 12 May as yet another extension to reconsider its response and to inform its leader that some of the junta officials would also visit the areas surrounding the faction’s base in Kehsi Township on 11 May.

But the faction said no one came to visit their base up to this day.