The Burma Army attacked a Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) camp in southern Shan State on Monday morning, January 25.
Lt-Col Oum Khur, spokesperson for RCSS, confirmed that Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion LIB-575, under Military Operation Command-17, launched the 10 minute attack in Mongpan Township. But he couldn’t explain why. The camp is located next to a village and fortunately no-one was hurt during the violence. In the afternoon, Burma Army soldiers who remained in the area indiscriminately fired 60 mm shells.
The RCSS said the Burma army violated Article 8/b of Chapter 3 of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) for failing to inform the ethnic armed organization it intended to travel in its controlled area carrying weapons. But RCSS didn’t mention what NCA article the Tatmadaw violated for allegedly launching the unprovoked attack on its camp.
Last December, over 1000 villagers were displaced by clashes between Tatmadaw and RCSS forces in Kyaukme Township, located in northern Shan State.