Around 100 Burmese military vehicles full of soldiers and weapons have arrived in the northern Shan State on 22 April, according to local residents.
Clashes frequently break out between the Burma Army and the Northern Alliance in the northern Shan State.
Around 50 military vehicles left for Namkham at the Kachin State’s border via Muse and over 40 military vehicles were headed towards Mong Ko in the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) Regiment 6 territory via 105 Mile Trade Zone, local residents told K.N.G.
The military vehicles still had not arrived in Mongkoe up to the afternoon of 24 April.
According to local residents, seven military vehicles and soldiers have also arrived in Hpawng Seng on 24 April, which is located in the east of Mong Ko.
It is unclear whether the Burma Army is marching to replace the soldiers or to prepare for battle.
In a statement released by Pangkham Conference on 19 April, seven ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) from Upper Burma that still have not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government have established the ‘Union Political Dialogue Committee’ to discuss politics with the Burmese government under a new approach.
The seven EAOs are the Kachin Independence Organisation/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA), which is currently leading the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party/Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA), the Peace and Solidarity Committee/National Democratic Alliance Army (PSC/NDAA), and the Arakan Army (AA).
Hundreds of Burmese soldiers started marching to the northern Shan State five days after the statement was released.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by Laignee Barron
