The Burma Army commander, based in Lashio, has denied allegations against the Shan State Army (North) for the 2 missing of its liaison representatives, who are believed to have been killed, the case has been filed in the parliamentary session, as they [the Burma army] claim ‘no responsibility’, said the SSPP/SSA spokesperson.
“Our representatives, Sai Kawng and Sai Sang Tawng, from our liaison office based in Namtu Township are missing. One was shot at, and the government army, without any inquiry, arrested the other. We have requested that the Burma Army, Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) commander-in-chief release our men. They [the Burma Army] denied having any knowledge of the disappearances,” said Maj. Sai La, the spokesperson for the SSPP/SSA.
“As for your missing people, we have no responsibility. It is impossible that the Burma Army would have done it. We’ve neither seen nor heard about it,” blasted the Burma Army commander.
“As the Burma Army commander responded by saying ‘they have no news about the incidents’, we have requested the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) MP forward the case to the parliamentary session,” added Maj. Sai La.
It was reported that on 5 June, Wednesday, 2 SSPP/SSA liaison office representatives, Sai Kawng and Sai Sang Tawng from Pangkham village, Wengnan tract, Namtu township in northern Shan State, were shot at only Sai Sang Tawng survived the assault. The incident took place when the two were returning home from their work place in rubber plantations near Nawng Kao Lut and 2 km from Pangkham, they encountered with a unit of the Burma Army under the control of LIB 501 led by Col. Aung Than Moe.
It has been reported that Sai Kawng died on the spot; Sai Sang Tawng was taken away by a unit of the Burma Army, said an informant, who is a native of Namtu.
“Sai Sang Tawng’s mother immediately followed the Burma Army, as it has been rumored that he was taken to Hsenwi. The mother did not see her son there. She then reported the case to the army regional office. But she was told that they have no knowledge about her son,” said an SSPP/SSA commander.
In May a government negotiator from the Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC) and one from the SSPP met in Tangyan. Both sides have signed the Tangyan Agreement, which says they will avoid clashes and resolve the problem peacefully. However, clash after clash is still occurring, and due to the clashes between the two armies human rights abuses are still occurring just as before in Namtu township, northern Shan State.
