The United Wa State Army/Party (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) based in Special Region No. 4 in Eastern Shan State issued a joint statement about the fighting between the Shan State Progressive Party (SSP/SSA) and government forces in Kyethe Township.
U Aung Myint, a spokesperson from the UWSA said: “We are concerned by these clashes in Northern Shan State. We worry that they may impact on forthcoming negotiations and become obstacles to the nationwide ceasefire agreement.”
The statement said that over 1,000 soldiers of the Tatmadaw (government forces) from the Eastern and North Eastern Divisions supported by 120mm artillery surprised the SSPP/SSA forces when they attacked them from 2nd to 5th October.
U Aung Myint said: “These battles evolved from smaller clashes then the government escalated the fighting by using heavy artillery which is not normal. We are worried that these clashes will affect the peace process.
The heavy artillery bombardment on 3rd October forced the SSPP/SSA forces to retreat from Hta Pha Soung Camp, but they recaptured the camp from the government forces on 4th October.
Sao Pai Pu a central committee member of the SSPP/SSA said they captured a government army truck that contained the bodies of 11 army sergeants.
He said: “When we look at the fighting overall the government has suffered more casualties than us. If 11 sergeants were killed it is likely that even more ordinary soldiers were killed. The government side only managed to seize Hta Pa Soung camp which we have now recaptured. There were about 25 separate clashes, those at Hta Pha Soung Camp and Namp Khote Camp saw the heaviest fighting.”
