Four died and one person was injured in a clash, which lasted four days between Pa-O National Army (PNA) and Mark Kieng militia unit in Southern Shan State’s Namzang Township recently, local sources said.

The clash from 18 October to 21 October led to four men of the PNA being killed and one man from Mark Kieng side injured. The encounter came in the wake of an argument between Pa-O National Organization (PNO) party campaigners and villagers of Mark Kieng, Mongzit village tract on 17 October, a local businessman said.

“The PNO came for campaigning in the village. But locals refused to allow them to campaign and asked them to leave saying no one would support them. The campaigners where irked with the villagers and left immediately,” he said.

The campaigners reportedly came back the next day with a 150-strong PNA force led by Major Kyaw Tin Oo. But they were stopped by 20 Mark Kieng militia led by Captain Mo Khurh in Hsai Nguen village controlled by the group.

“The Mark Kieng group warned them [PNA] not to cross their controlled area, otherwise they would fire. But the PNA continued coming in and the clash ensued,” he said.

The shooting stopped on the intervention of the commander of Eastern Region Command based in Taunggyi.

“The commander said if the two did not stop fighting, he would send Burmese Army soldiers to attack both,” he said.

According to local villagers, most of the Mark Kieng militia men were former members of Mong Tai Army and more familiar with the terrain than the PNA.  “Most PNA men were new recruits and had no experience in fighting.”

Maj-Gen Yawdserk, confirming the reports, commented: It was only a fight between two drug cartels backed by the junta.