S.H.A.N. has learned that there was heavy fighting between government forces and the Federal Union Army (FUA) earlier this month at Kutkai, Manton and Theinni Townships in Northern Shan State.
Government army brigades No.11 and No.55 fought with FUA forces at Kutkai and Manton on 10th December and at Theinni on 13th December according to Mai Aik Kyaw, head of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) information department.
He said: “On 10th December there was fighting at Sai-Khong and Ho-Poan villages in the Tar-Moe-Nye area of Kutkai Township. The fighting was very intense and took place between 5pm and 5.30pm. We received information that a company commander, a deputy commander and 12 soldiers were killed and at least 20 soldiers were injured.
On the same day there was fighting at Nam-Par-Chaung Village in Manton Township with an unknown number of casualties.
An officer from the TNLA said: “There were about 400-500 government soldiers fighting on 10th December [at Kuktai]. There were no refugees as the fighting took place in the jungle.
He also said that on the 13th December government and FUA forces clashed for an hour, from 11am to 12pm, between Nam-zalat and Namte villages in Theinni Township.
The FUA forces involved in the fighting came from the TNLA, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and the Myanmar National Democracy Alliance Army (MNDAA) according to local residents.
The FUA is an alliance of 11 armed groups from the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) that was formed in February 2011.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
