Hta Pha Song Camp is 15 miles northeast of Kyethi Township in Southern Shan State, nearby are the four smaller outposts of Koung-Mat-Hin-Tan, Pangsae, Koung-Ma-Mong-Long and Koung-Mike-Nyoung.

An SSPP/SSA commander at the frontline said five government military tactical units under the command of the Lashio based Northeast Infantry Division and the Kenglom based East Infantry Division had attacked the camps.

He said over 1000 soldiers from eight battalions of Military Operation Command 2 (MOC 2) attacked the camps in 10 columns. They were armed with 60mm, 81mm and 120mm rocket launchers and two 14.5mm caliber machine guns.

An SSPP/SSA official who did not wish to be named said: “The Troops are under the command of the MOC 2 Tactical Operations Command based in Mongnong. There were originally 500 troops in the area and they have been joined by troops from Mongyai, Tanyong, Mongsan, Mongshu, Mongnong, Wangsane, Kyethi and Nangpoat.”

All the residents of Ngulain Village, west of Nanghin Stream and near to Hta Pha Song Camp had to flee on 2nd October to avoid stray artillery shells which were landing on the village.

As of 2nd October fighting was also happening in the area of Wantwan Village and the military presence in the area of Mongout Village was causing tensions.

According to an official from the office headquarters of the SSPP/SSA the government forces attacking the camps have just completed special training on how to capture enemy camps at the army bases in Mantket (Tangyan Township, Northern Shan State) and Kyongtpung (Moenae Township, Southern Shan State)

He said that maybe capturing Hta Pha Song Camp and its outposts was not the army’s main aim and that it was just a prelude to attacks on camps to the west of the Than Lwin River neighbouring the Wa area.

The SSP/SSA is a force that has signed a union level ceasefire agreement with the government.