The Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) will continue to fight, but only in self-defence, despite the Burma Army's ongoing launch of offensives, according to an SSPP/SSA statement released on 18 October.
SSPP/SSA troops (Photo: SSPP/SSA)
Burma Army troops launched attacks in the area of the SSPP/SSA’s headquarters in Wan Hai and Tar San Pu between 19 September and 6 October.
SSPP/SSA spokesman Major Sai La said: “They [the Burma Army] are pressuring us militarily. But for us, we ourselves never launch attacks apart from in defence. Now they have attacked one of our important headquarters. For that, we have to draw back. We think, this should be stopped. The political problem can only be solved through political talks.”
The statement said that SSPP/SSA does not want to attack Burma Army troops, but the Burma Army is intruding and unjustly launching offensives.
The statement also said that the SSPP/SSA’s central committee will continue to participate in political talks, peace talks and continue discussions about the nationwide ceasefire with the government’s Union Peace-making Working Committee.
The Tatmadaw [Burma Army] has already occupied Tar San Pu Village, the river port base of the SSPP/SSA in Kyethi Township, one of the SSPP/SSA's most important strategic bases.
Due to clashes between the SSPP/SSA and the Burma Army, more than a thousand locals from Mong Hsu Township had to flee their villages, according to the Tai Youth Network(TYN).
The SSPP/SSA was one of the ethnic armed groups that did not sign the 15 October nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the government.
The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), whichdid sign the NCA, has urged the government to continue having talks with the armed groups that have not yet signed the NCA and for the Burma Army to not attack those groups.
The RCSS/SSA said the Burma Army should stop its offensives against the SSPP/SSA and start holding talks with them again as they were involved in drafting the NCA text.
The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society group and the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) urged the government to find solutions through talking to ethnic armed organisations rather than launching offensive attacks against them.
Reporter Aik Sai for IMNA
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
