One person was killed and another injured after a Burmese Army unit was reportedly attacked by an unknown group on 29 April, while it was on its way to reinforce troops in Shan State North’s Tangyan Township, west of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) controlled territory, according to sources on the Sino-Burma border.

The incident occurred at 12:30 between Hoya village tract and Loi Ngeun (Silver Mountain), forming the northern border of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’’s Brigade No.1 controlled areas and south of the junta-back Manpang militia force controlled areas. The unit was identified as Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) # 326 based in Tangyan.

The SSA liaison officer in Lashio was summoned to meet the commander of the Northeastern Region Command on that day as soon as the incident was reported. The officer was told by the commander to inform his group to take responsibility for the incident. If the group refused to, it would face a military operation.

“It is obvious that they blame us because we are yet to accept its programme,” said a senior officer from the First Brigade. “But the First Brigade’s policy doesn’t allow fighters to shoot first unless they are attacked.”

According to him, the incident was the LIB# 326’s own doing. “We learnt that the M79 rocket launcher was accidentally fired by a soldier. The Burmese Army commander was seizing this opportunity to make war on us.”

The SSA-N has three brigades (1, 3 and 7), one border force and one HQ Security Force commanded by Maj-Gen Loimao. Brigade No. 3 and 7 were said to have submitted lists of their men and weapons to form the junta run home guard force. The First however has remained silent on the programme to this day.

A senior officer from the anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ said that the Brigade No. 1 is in a dilemma. “For one thing, the brigade is still emotionally attached to its comrades in the other units. For another, it is not sure it could really rely on its allies. It is also afraid that joining the SSA South will push it into a premature war with the Burmese Army.”

Nevertheless, the SSA North said it is yet to agree to transform itself to home guards. It had only submitted lists of their men, who agreed to become members of a home guard force, to be formed under the Burmese Army’s supervision.

The deadline for ceasefire groups to become militias expired on 28 April.