“They [the 50] were riding motorbikes from Mine Kaung village to Nant Pan Chaung to take part in the Water Festival,” said SHRF’s Kham Han Pha. “A column of Tatmadaw [Myanmar army] soldiers stopped them and told them to park their motorbikes on the side of the road. Then they instructed the youngsters to walk ahead of, behind, and alongside them.

“The purpose of the soldiers’ act was clearly to avoid being shot at by Shan army troops,” he said. “They were used as human shields. After they arrived at their destination, the Tatmadaw unit released the young people.”

On April 15 and 16—the third day and fourth day of the annual Thingyan Water Festival which traditionally marks Myanmar New Year—several skirmishes were reported in the Tangyan area between the Shan State Army- North (SSA/SSPP) and government forces.

The hostilities reportedly happened three times and lasted only a few minutes, but SHRF reported on Monday that two local children were injured in the crossfire, and that a number of schools and houses were destroyed by heavy weapons fire from government army side.

SHRF said that the Tatmadaw also burned some vehicles and threatened to burn down villages close to the battlefield.

“Some civilians fled from their village because of the fighting, but encountered a column of Tatmadaw troops,” said Kham Han Pha. “The Myanmar army soldiers asked the villagers where they were going, and they replied that they were running away from the hostilities out of fear for their safety. The Tatmadaw commanders told them they were not allowed to go anywhere, and instructed their men to burn the villagers’ motorbikes and vehicles.”

Fighting between the SSA/SSPP and government forces flared up at the end of March and several battles have broken out around the villages of Loilem and Loisay in Tangyan Township, which is located in a hilly area between Shan State’s main towns of Lashio and Kengtung. Local sources say that some 2,000 villagers have since fled their homes and are displaced in makeshift camps in the Tangyan region. Their basic needs are being provided by local Buddhist monks, civic groups, political parties and township authorities.

Speaking to Mizzima, SSA/SSPP Col. Phain Pha said that the Shan army had requested the government forces to desist from fighting to allow war refugees to return to their homes, however the Tatmadaw continued to launch attacks.

Col. Phain Pha said the SSA/ SSPP had held a meeting with Myanmar government delegates on April 3 to discuss the issue, but hostilities have continued regardless.

He could not confirm casualties, saying that communications in the Tangyan region were difficult.

SSA/SSPP agreed a ceasefire with government forces in January 2012, but hostilities have occurred frequently with more than 100 skirmishes or battles reported.