As the Burma Army units continue to patrol areas outside towns and cities without notifying the Shan State Army (SSA), more clashes and confrontations are to be expected, according to Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) officials.

The latest clashes took place on 10 July:

• 1 in Nawng Khio township, northern Shan State, against the Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion # 502’s 30 strong patrol
• 2 in Monghsu township, southern Shan State, against the Burma Army’s Infantry Battalions # 149 and 150

The SSA suffered 3 wounded during the encounter in Nawng Khio, according to the SSA report that claims 3 killed and 4 wounded on the Burmese side. “The Burmese troops demanded that villagers from Khum Ngeun must compensate for the loss of their 3 weapons to the SSA,” said the report, “because they failed to notify them in advance of the SSA presence in the area.”

The SSPP/SSA signed a ceasefire with Naypyitaw on 28 January 2012. It has reported that more than 100 clashes have taken place since then.

The Burma Army meanwhile is busy reinforcing their troops in Mongton and Monghsat townships, opposite northern Thailand, where the United Wa State Army (UWSA) is entrenched. The two side are reportedly holding talks in Kengtung. The 5 men UWSA delegation is led by Bao Youliang (younger brother of Wa supreme leader Bao Youxiang) and includes Zhao Guo-an, U Aung Myint, Vice Chief of Staff Sai Hsarm and Wei Xueyun, Deputy Commander of 171st Military Region. Earlier, Thai sources had mistaken Bao Youliang for Xiao Minliang.