Local residents said the Tatmadaw has been scouring for Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army troops in Mong Kung and Kyethi townships in the central Shan State.
Ten battalions including the battalions under the Tatmadaw’s 33rd Light Infantry Division (LID-33) have been reinforced to search for the RCSS/SSA in Mat Wong, Nam Oke, and Ho Pon villages in Kyethi Township and Ham Ngaing, Ho Hkai, and Ton Laung villages in Mong Kung Township since early July, according to the local residents.
“The military column asked me where the RCSS/SSA was. I was afraid of being beaten if I didn’t answer,” said a village headman who arrived in Kyethi after encountering the military column.
“A clash broke out for around an hour in the morning on the 23rd (July 23). We were only defending ourselves. Around 100 troops from the combined force of two or three Tatmadaw battalions fired at our troops. They told us to retreat to the designated area. The designated area hasn’t been set down yet. We have been active in this area since in the past,” Lt-Col Sai Oo, spokesperson of the RCSS/SSA, told the Shan Herald.
Military reinforcement has been deployed to Kyethi and Minenaung townships on July 24 and the local residents are worried that clashes can break out anytime.
“We try to avoid fighting as much as we can, but there may be shootings if they confront us after reinforcing their troops and coming after us,” said Lt-Col Sai Oo.
Pyithu Hluttaw Sai San Mein from Kyethi Township told the Shan Herald that local residents have returned home since fighting has stopped on July 24 and 25.
“There aren’t clashes anymore. That’s why the internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned home. They took refuge in Wan Phein Monastery for two days. Our Kyethi Township party even went to donate food supplies yesterday. The [Tatmadaw’s] Eastern Central Command also came to support them. They went back with worries as it’s the time for them to farm,” said Sai San Mein.
Around 100 residents of Mat Wong and Nam Oke villages of Ho Pon Village Group fled to Wan Phein Kham Monastery on July 23 after the Tatmadaw attacked the RCSS/SSA in Kyeithi Township of southern Shan State.
The RCSS/SSA is a Shan ethnic armed organization that has signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the government.
