After its central committee meeting, the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army – North (SSPP/SSA-N) released a statement that the Tatmadaw has launched over 500 military offensives against it within five years since it signed the union-level ceasefire agreement with the union government in Taunggyi.
The SSPP/SSA-N’s central committee held its plenary meeting and 2017 year-end summary meeting from January 6 to 13. On the next day after the meeting ended, the SSPP/SSA-N issued a six-point announcement where it claimed that the Tatmadaw has launched over 500 military offensives against them within five years of peace-building and arrested over 40 SSPP/SSA-N members.
“We signed the ceasefire because we want to solve the political issue with a peaceful method. Over 500 offensives have been launched against us from 2012 to now while we are doing negotiation. Our men have been arrested. Over 40 men have been detained at the prisons and jails in Muse, Kutkai, and Lashio,” Major Phone Han from the SSPP/SSA-N told the Shan Herald.
The SSPP led by General Pang Fa resigned from the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) and joined the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), a seven-member coalition led by the United Wa State Army (UWSA).
Clashes have broken out frequently in Mong Hsu, Tang Yan and Mong Yai townships, Hsipaw town, and Kyethi Township and military tension is high on the Padamyar Mountain in Mong Hsu.
The Tatmadaw has been launching military offensives against the FPNCC members who have refused to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement. It has also been frequently clashing with the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army – South (RCSS/SSA-S) even though the RCSS/SSA has signed the NCA. The RCSS/SSA soldiers, who have been detained by the Tatmadaw, have not been released yet.
