Burma army orders SSPP/SSA to withdraw from Monghsu
The Burmese military today ordered
the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) to immediately withdraw
its troops from Monghsu Township in southern Shan State, while many civilians
in the area have also been requested to move out.
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| Photo by SHAN- A military checkpoint in Khojom village, Monghsu Township |
Speaking to Shan Herald
today, a local source in Mong Hsu who wished to remain anonymous said, “Villagers
here were informed that the Tatmadaw [Burmese army] had ordered the
SSPP/SSA forces to withdraw from their Nam Nab Base near Khojom village in
Monghsu by this afternoon. Now, many local villagers have abandoned their homes
and gone to seek shelter in Monghsu town.”
On January 10, SSPP/SSA representatives met with Brig-Gen Htet Htun, the head of Central
Eastern Command, which is based in Kholam Township, Shan State, to discuss plans
for road construction in SSPP/SSA territory. The Burmese commander told
SSPP/SSA representatives that he would reinforce his troop strength in the area
whether the Shan militia approved or not.
According to an official from the
SSPP/SSA’s News and Information Department, who spoke to Shan Herald
under condition of anonymity, the Tatmadaw ordered the Shan army to
withdraw from the area before January 20 because they will bring reinforcements
in.
“Because of this [troop
reinforcements], they ordered us and the local villagers to move out,” said the
official. “This could lead to an outbreak of hostilities.
“Apart from the Burmese military
presence under Kholam command which is active in the area, more troops from Namsang
Battalion No. 151, Kali Battalion 150, and Kunheng Battalion 524, as well as
two security battalions have now been brought in,” he said.
The SSPP/SSA representative said that
the Burmese military had also beefed up its troop strength in Tangyan Township,
Lashio District, near the SSPP/SSA base at Loi Je, a strategic mountain outpost.
“We do not wish armed conflict,”
said a representative of the SSPP/SSA who was due to meet with government peace
negotiator Thein Zaw today in Yangon. “We have requested the Tatmadaw not
deploy soldiers to build the road. Instead, they should employ civilians. But
they did not agree.
“We also requested a meeting with
Gen. Yar Pyae in Naypyidaw but it didn’t happen, so we proposed a meeting with
U Thein Zaw today,” he added. “We want to solve the problem by political
means.”
He re-emphasized: “We need to solve
this problem immediately. Otherwise, fighting will break out and people will
suffer.”
The Burmese armed forces launched
heavy offensives against the SSPP/SSA, including assaults on its Wan Hai
Headquarters in Kesi Township, during the general election last year.
SSPP/SSA is a member of the United
Nationalities Federal Council which has to date declined to sign the nationwide
ceasefire agreement, or NCA. The Shan militia previously approved state-level
and union-level ceasefire accords with the former Burmese government administration
headed by President Thein Sein.
By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
Tags: News, War
