CHIANG MAI. Over a hundred villagers fled to Wan Wap Temple in Shan State’s Kehsi Township on July 6th due to mounting tension between Burma’s army and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).
The Burmese army has been continuously reinforcing its troops closer to areas under SSPP/SSA control in Mongsu and Kehsi Townships ever since the two sides exchanged fire in mid-June, a battle which caused the SSA to lose its camp in Mongsu.
“After deploying their troops closer to [SSA-controlled areas] Burmese army troops started patrolling around Wan Wap Village—trampling on villagers’ crops; breaking farmers’ fences; and building bunkers,” said an SSA officer.
One Wan Wap villager said: “We were told by the Burmese army that we must stay inside our homes; can’t visit each other; and can’t take rice outside the village. If we want to eat, we must eat at home”.
According to villagers, the school in Wan Wap has been closed because the Burmese army set up a camp in the village—a move that has deprived 125 students of their education.
To alleviate the hardship caused by this incident, local MPs from the Shan Nationalities Development Party (SNDP) and the Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) have provided 10 sacks of rice, salt, oil, and water to Wan Wap villagers.
An SSPP/SSA officer said: “We told the villagers they can take refuge at our headquarters or in big towns, and warned them not to flee into the jungle because the Burmese army might shoot them on sight.”
The Burmese army troops deployed to these SSA areas belong to the Namjarng-based 516th Battalion; the Mongnawng-based 9th and 287th Battalions; the Mongpan-based 297th Battalion; the Loilem-based 12th Battalion; and the Tahsang-based 249th Battalion.
