Five hundred refugees have been able to return home after a temporary refugee camp in Tangyan Township for those who fled their homes due to fighting between the Myanmar government army and the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) closed earlier this month.
The camp was closed on May 11 following a meeting between the Myanmar government's Peace Making Committee and the SSPP in Tangyan Township.
“[The Peace Making Committee] promised that there would be no more wars in the future and that we could allow to go anyone go home if they wanted,” said Sai Lu, a member of the Relief Committee. “Now, we are only helping about 100 refugees,” he added.
The Shan Human Rights Foundation said that more than 2,000 war refugees from 16 villages near Loilem and Loise in Tangyan township, Nothern Shan State fled to Tangyan Township following clashes in mid-April.
SSPP/SSA said that after although a ceasefire agreement was signed with the government in January 2012, there has been more than 100 battles between the government army and SSA troops since.
