Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Fighting halted in northern Shan State

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Wednesday, 26 October 2011 20:54 Ko Wild

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Fighting has been halted in the control area of Shan State Army (North) / Shan State Progressive Party (SSA/SSPP) for more than one month, Major Sai Hla, a Shan army spokesman, said.

Government troops and SSA-N troops have fought for six months. He said fighting has been halted in areas around Mong Hsu, Mong Yai, Kyethi, Tang Yang, Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Lashio, Namsan and Namkham townships.

The last battle occurred on September 22 when about 50 soldiers from the government’s Light Infantry Unit No. 506 and SSA-N troops fought for about 15 minutes between Kyethi and Hsipaw townships.

Troops of the Shan State Army-North Photo: SSA

Earlier, SSA-N troops had to abandon 10 military bases including the Nanlaung base in Tang Yang Township and the Naungcho base in Mong Yai Township, keeping only the Wanhai headquarters as their stronghold.

“Now, they are pressing in Kachin State and that may be the reason why they are not active in this area presently. But there are still some government battalions near our headquarters,” Major Sai Hla said.

He said that government troops might launch military offensives again in northern Shan State if they can control the Kachin Independence Army Brigade No. 4 area, where the natural gas pipeline linking from Kyaukphyu in Arakan State to Yunnan Province in China will pass through.

On other issues, General Sai Htin, 75, a patron of SSA-N, who was sentenced to 106 years in prison for rebellion against the state, was released on October 12 under the recent amnesty ordered by the new government.

He told the media that he was not ready to answer questions. He now lives in Lashio in Shan State with his family. He suffers from coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, his daughter Nan Kham Phaung told Mizzima.

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