The Shan State Army (SSA) South has denied being involved in a bomb throwing incident that reportedly injured five people, including a woman, last Sunday.

"It is not our policy to kill innocent people. The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is accusing us to garner more support from people for the ensuing referendum. They are twisting facts to mislead the people, to make them misunderstand us as terrorists," said the spokesperson of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) Maj Lao Hseng.

On 13 April, at 00:30 a bomb exploded in Wanpang village, Laikha Township, 89 miles east of the Shan State capital Taunggyi, while people were preparing for the traditional Thingyan (Songkran) festival.

The Myanmar Ahli newspaper said five people were injured. They are U Nyan Aung, U Pai Aung Kham, U Myint Thein, U Own Pe and Nang Tin. A man, whom the paper claimed was a member of the Shan State Army (SSA) rebel group, tossed the bomb into a gathering early on Sunday.

However, according to a local source, it was an old homemade bomb that exploded because of the heat. "No one threw a hand grenade," he claimed.

Wanpang is a village under the control of a pro-junta militia group led by Mongzeun, a fugitive from the SSA South.

SSA South is said to be the strongest among the rebel groups that have been opposing the SPDC. The others are the Karen National Union (KNU) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).