About 2,000 people fled their homes after the Burma Army attacked a Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) relief centre in Mong Kung Township, southern Shan State.
According to the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) representative for Mong Kung, Sai Seng Murng, fighting broke out between Burma Army Battalion 292 and the RCSS/SSA on 1 October at Wan Boi Village.
Because of the fighting residents from Wan Boi, Wan Kon Sar and other nearby villages fled their homes and sought shelter at the northern and southern monasteries of the Donglao Village Group, which is about three miles away from Wan Boi Village in Loilem District.
Sai Seng Murng said: “We heard the sounds yesterday [2 October], we heard the sounds of battle. The other side [fighting the army, the RCSS/SSA] has signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement [NCA]. Only the public suffers whenever [fighting breaks out]. Now, there are accommodation difficulties as there are nearly 2,000 war refugees.”
People displaced by fighting between the RCSS/SSA and the Burma Army
The RCSS/SSA also said that the Burma Army targeted four different areas with heavy artillery on 2 October.
The RCSS/SSA’s spokesperson Colonel Sai Hla told S.H.A.N that fighting broke out between the two armies after the Burma Army attacked a relief centre for drug addicts in Donglao.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sai Ngin, the RCSS/SSA Secretary of the Peace Liaison Committee said the incident happened because the Burma Army did not follow the NCA, which the RCS/SSA have signed.
People displaced by fighting between the RCSS/SSA and the Burma Army
He said: “The Burma Army was in the wrong. They failed to follow the NCA, which has been agreed by both armies. According to the agreement, the Burma Army should inform the liaison office before entering our controlled area. This time, they didn’t inform us at all. They suddenly attacked the drug relief centre so fighting broke out between the two armies. I want to tell the [Burmese] government to immediately resolve this issue.”
Talking of the NCA Col. Sai Hla said: “Some of the wording in the NCA is not clearly defined. For example, there are no clear-cut descriptions of ceasefire areas. Neither does it include recognition of borders. [To eliminate drugs] we have [had] to cooperate with local residents because the Burma Army has not cooperated with us in eliminating drugs.”
Local youths helping the refugees said that there was a sudden increase in the number of refugees after the Burma Army launched air strikes with two aircraft.
Reporting by Nan Sai Phoo for S.H.A.N
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
