On 3 May, a unit of Burma Army while searching for their men inside the Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) base, torched it to ashes next day, resulting in anger by Shan troops under the command of Task Force 701 based in the Nam Mao (Shweli) valley region, according to local news sources.


“Their [Burma Army] men were reported missing. Burma army officials from Muse informed us that they wanted to search for their men in the RCSS base. So, we ordered our troops to stay away. As they entered the camp, they acted as though staging a raid and set fire the base afterward. Our men are very angry now. As the ceasefire agreement is still in existence we had decided to uphold the truce, not retaliating. Now we realize that the agreement is not working. If they [Burma Army] continue intruding our bases in the future, we will shoot without warning,” said the RCSS/SSA 701 base commander.

Four ethnic Burmans were said to be selling portrait pictures of Gen. Aung San, Aung San SuuKyi and other high profile people and were later reported as missing in the fourth week of April. The Burma Army accused that SSA has detained them and demanded their release.

The RCSS/SSA responded by saying as they had not arrested them, “there was no one to release.” Muse district based Burma Army Operations Command later requested that they wanted to search the RCSS Tuengkha base. Upon RCSS agreement to be searched, the Burma Army raided the RCSS camp but found no detainees. Next day early morning on 4 May, they torched the base and left, according to the local news sources.


“First, they [Burma Army] wanted to create problem by inciting racism. Second, the army does not care about the ceasefire agreement at all. So, there is no choice, but to retaliate. Our men are so angry for what had happened and are now preparing for a fight. In order that the rest of the RCSS/SSA bases are not targeted like this, we have informed U Aung Min, the deputy chairman of Union Peacemaking Working Committee,” said Maj Lao Hseng, the RCSS/SSA spokesperson.

Early this month, there was also a clash between RCSS/SSA and Burma Army in Mongnai Township, southern Shan State, “after they intruded our controlled areas without prior notice,” added Maj Lao Hseng.