“[The Tatmadaw] asked us whether our troops are on the southern side of Mong Hsu-Mong Nawng Road and told us to withdraw if we are stationed there. The MOC-1 [First Military Operations Command] and the military affairs security units in Mong Nawng and Mong Hsu told us to withdraw under their superior’s orders,” an official from SSPP/SSA headquarters said.

The Tatmadaw had instructed the SSPP/SSA back in early October to withdraw troops from Mong Hsu-Tang Yan road to Wan Loi, Loi Naing, and Tar Win Naung’s ferry port in order to proceed with a road building project.

“The Tatmadaw started repairing and digging new trenches in front of their base in Mong Hsu. Something significant happens whenever they do that,” said a resident of Mong Hsu, who lives near the military base.

An information officer from the SSPP/SSA headquarters said the Tatmadaw has not reinforced their troops.

“The Tatmadaw is conducting tight security inspection at Nam Kat gate on the road from Mong Nawng to Mong Hsu. They are inspecting whether the travellers have national identification cards and whether they can speak in Burmese. We were inspected on Saturday,” said Daw Nan Shwe Eain, a resident of Mong Hsu who is currently in Lashio.

The Tatmadaw already has three battalions under Mong Hsu Tactical Operations Command, ten battalions under Mong Nawng-based Military Operations Command, three battalions under Nam Poke Tactical Operations Command, three battalions under Tangyan Tactical Operations Command, as well as three battalions in Kyethi in the area around the SSPP/SSA’s Wan Hai headquarters.

Since 2009, the Tatmadaw has launched a series of military offensives against the SSPP/SSA, displacing local residents and causing losses in annual harvests. In October 2015, fighting displaced some 2500 villagers, some of whom remain unable to return home.