CHIANG MAI— From July 20-21, fighting resumed between the Burma army’s 248th Battalion and Shan State Army-North’s (SSA-N) 72nd Brigade in Kehsi Township, located in southern Shan State. The fighting has already displaced people from six villages.
According to Sai Harn, a Shan youth who has been assisting displaced villagers, the six villages include Parng Jay, Wan Kyawng, Par Teap, Wan Kwarn, Parng Mong, and Parng Mike Kay. Sai Harn could not confirm the number of newly displaced villagers.
Ever since tensions began rising between the two sides in early July, hundreds of people have been seeking shelter at Wan Wap Temple. However, the newly displaced villagers haven’t been able to seek refuge in Wan Wap Village due to the presence of Burmese soldiers operating in the area.
According to retired SSA officer Sao Sai Kaw, the Burmese army wanted to occupy Ta Pa Sawng in central Shan State because they’re trying to sever connections between the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) and the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S).
Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)/SSA-N General Secretary Sao Khun Seng said: “Before we reached a ceasefire, we built a bridge [at Ta Pa Sawng] for the benefit of the people, and then the Burmese army burned down the bridge. After we signed a ceasefire, we rebuilt the bridge to improve transportation for the people. For the security of the bridge, we set up our base there. We were told to move out, but this is our motherland, so how can we abandon it?”
SSPP/SSA-N signed a ceasefire with Naypyidaw in January 2012 and has a representative on the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), a group which has been negotiating a nationwide ceasefire with Naypyidaw on behalf of armed ethnic groups.
