NANG SENG NOM — Fighting that began at the end of last month in northern Shan State has continued into June, with no indication when the clashes will cease.
Maj Tar Aik Kyaw, spokesperson for the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), says his group clashed with the Tatmadaw on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. “The Burma Army attacked us with artillery from their Namphetka base.”
The TNLA spokesperson said the Tatmadaw fired five shells at his men. At press time he was not sure if they sustained casualties from the attack.
The ethnic armed group fought with the Burma Army on Wednesday at 8.30 a.m. near Kawng Neing in Kutkai township and around 10:00 a.m. near Shwe Maw Gyi.
The latest spat began after TNLA attacked a convoy of Tatmadaw military vehicles with remote-detonated mines on May 29 on the Union Highway near Namkut.
Maj Tar Aik Kyaw told SHAN the TNLA are only defending their territory from encroaching Tatmadaw military columns.
SHAN repeatedly tried to call Tatmadaw’s True News Information Team for their comment on the fighting, but no one responded.
On Wednesday, the Tatmadaw and a Border Force group attacked the Restoration Council of the Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) in Mongton township in eastern Shan State.
RCSS/SSA is a signatory to Burma’s Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, where TNLA is not.
The Burma Army declared a unilateral ceasefire in most of the country from May 10 to August 31.
The Northern Alliance, which TNLA is a part of, alongside Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army announced an extension of its unilateral ceasefire on June 1 until August 31.
