SSPP/SSA denies landmine accusation by Burmese military
The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army
(SSPP/SSA) says it sent a letter to the Burmese military’s Eastern Central Command
on Monday denying allegations that it planted the landmine that caused recent
injuries to two civilians.
According to a report by the
state-owned Myawady Daily news journal on October 9, the SSPP/SSA
stands accused of planting landmines near Mawmae village, tract 4 of Monghsu
Township. Two villagers, named as Loong Ku and his niece, stepped on one and
were injured by the resulting blast.
Reached for commented, Maj. Sao Ba Tun, secretary 3
of SSPP/SSA, said, “We never have an intention of attacking the people of Shan
State. We never set out to injure civilians.
“Whenever there is an explosion, whether in a city
or in rural areas, the Tatmadaw [Burmese armed forces] always accuses
ethnic armed groups.”
The SSPP/SSA officer acknowledged that his group had
signed state-level and union-level ceasefire accords,
but did not sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the government on
October 15 last year.
Nevertheless, he said, the SSPP/SSA was not
responsible for this incident.
He went on to say that the SSPP/SSA believes in the peace
process and supports it.
He noted that, apart from SSPP/SSA, Burmese military
units and police are also active in Mongshu Township.
On October 7, Loong Ku, age 60, and his niece, Nang
Jing, 9, went into their local forest to collect wild mushrooms. They stepped
on a landmine near Nang Gaohant temple and it exploded. The pair are now being treated
at a local hospital in Kholam sub-township.
On that same day, Burmese government troops launched
an offensive against SSPP/SSA troops in Monghsu. No details were offered as to
casualties on either side.
Tags: Human Rights, News
