CHIANG MAI- June 19. After heavy attacks by the Burma Army, the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) has lost its camp at Red Ruby Mountain in Mongsu, southern Shan State.
An SSA-N commander at the frontline said: “The Burma Army started attacking us at Ruby Mountain in Mongsu on June 11, 2014. They (Burma Army) fired at us with heavy shells for two days, so local people were affected by the fierce battle. On the order of our headquarters, we withdrew from the camp.”
He added, “The Burma Army forced people to work as their porters and human shields at the frontline. We (SSA) were requested by the people not to ambush and shoot at the frontline. If we had, the villagers and porters would have got shot.”
SSA/SSPP spokesperson Major Sai Hla said: “It was not our permanent base, it was a temporary camp which we used only in the rainy season.”
The Burma Army has recently deployed more troops in northern Shan State around SSA-N and United Wa State Army (UWSA). A villager said, “The situation is still tense between the two sides.”
Shan State Army/Shan State Progress Party signed a ceasefire with the Naypyitaw in early 2012.
