A short skirmish broke out on Wednesday between Burmese government forces and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) in southern Shan State’s Panglong Township, according to the Shan group’s spokesperson.
Photo SHAN- Panglong Monument in Panglong Township, southern Shan State
Lt. Col. Sai Nguen told Shan Herald that the clash occurred because some 60 Burmese soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 246 entered RCSS/SSA territory without advance warning.
“Fighting broke out today at about 12:30pm and lasted about 30 minutes,” he said. “The fighting was near Namsai village, about 10 miles north of Panglong, very close to a local community.”
No casualties were reported.
The Shan rebel spokesman said that according to the terms of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) – which documents the terms and conditions that all armed groups in Burma are obliged to follow – any armed group must be granted permission before entering another’s territory.
“Fighting broke out because they [the Burmese armed forces] did not follow the terms,” he said, adding that the Burmese unit later moved back from Namsai.
Last month, Shan Herald reported that both sides had engaged in a heavy skirmish in northern Shan State’s Hsipaw Township.
More than 20 clashes have been reported between the Burmese army and the RCSS/SSA since the Shan militia signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2015.
According to Myanmar Peace Monitor, the RCSS/SSA has more than 8,000 troops active in the townships of Mong Ton and Mong Hsat in eastern Shan State; Mong Pan, Mong Nai, Laikha, Kunhing, Lawksawk, Maukmai, Mongkaung, Nam Hsan in southern Shan State; and Kyaukme and Nam Kham in northern Shan State. Its headquarters is in Loi Tai Leng, southern Shan State.
By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
