Seven ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have agreed to join defenses unless their aggressors cease attacks against ethnic armed groups in northern Shan State, according to a statement released at a recent Panghsang meeting, in Panghsang, Wa Special Region.
“Ethnic groups are creating a revolution in arms because they want to solve these political conflicts. We see that the Tatmadaw is using RCSS and provoking them to fight us. Prior to the NCA inking, there was no fighting in northern Shan State. There are MNDAA, KIA, SSPP, UWSA and various other groups and they all worked together. But after the NCA inking, the RCSS have edged into the territory of northern [Shan State] from the south, across several miles long stretch. Along that area, there are many government battalion bases. Why don’t they stop them [RCSS troops]? Only now have they told the RCSS troops to move back. However, the RCSS troops won’t retreat. Therefore, we see this as a conflict created by the Tatmadaw,” Mai Aik Kyaw, a spokesperson for the TNLA.
34 representatives were present at the three-day meeting from March 26 to 28. The representatives are from United Wa State Army (UWSA), Kachin Independent Army (KIA), Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Defense Army (MNDA), Arakan Army (AA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NMAA). None of them are signatories to the NCA. Excluding the UWSA, all six groups have clashed with Tatmdaw troops within the last year.
At the meeting, the representatives discussed the issues imbedded in the current political climate in Burma. The released statement contains two agreements, including the attending EAOs desire to cooperate with the new government, as in the agreements from the 2nd Panghsang Summit and to hold talks with the new government as soon as possible and create appropriate guidelines in order to implement peace in the country.
“On our side, the Tatmadaw troops do not help or fight alongside us. We have expanded our troops to northern Shan State at the people’s request. The TNLA troops are arresting local Shan people in the area. They are creating national conflicts amongst ethnicities. What we want to know is who is backing the TNLA. We are ready to meet with the TNLA. We only want to meet those in charge of the TNLA in order to resolve this conflict,” said Lt-Gen Yawd Serk, the head of RCSS, during a meeting with local media on March 5.
The RCSS and TNLA troops have engaged in intensive armed conflicts from November 27, 2015, to February 19, 2016, in areas of northern Shan State including Kyaukme Township and Namkham Township. The fighting produced more than 4000 refugees fleeing the region.
On February 16, 2016, Pyithu Hluttaw representative from Kyaukme Township reported at the Pyithu Hluttaw that there were arrests and bloodshed of locals in the village tract of Tawsang, in Kyaukme Township. The representative also urged to stop the war and to provide humanitarian aid to the refugees.
