Shan State clashes won't affect talks: govt

Clashes between government and Shan State Army troops last week will not affect peace talks with the Shan State Progressive Party, President’s Office Minister Aung Min has said.

The clashes were the result of a misunderstanding between low-level troops, the minister, who is vice-chairman of the Union Peace Working Committee, told reporters at the Myanmar Peace Centre on Saturday.

The Shan State Army, however, has accused the Myanmar Army of “double-crossing”, according to the Shan Herald News Agency. 

“The Burmese military is double-crossing the peace process,” Shan State Progress Party and Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) spokesman Maj Sai La. “Calm has just returned to the Kachin State. It is starting all over again with us. This doesn’t augur well for peace.”

Columns of Burma Army troops from Infantry Battalion 33 and Light Infantry Battalion 322 had launched attacks against the SSA’s 192nd Battalion in Mongkao and Loilan, both localities in Tangyan township, Lashio district. Locals could hear explosions from miles around, a Shan source from the border told the Shan news agency.

Minister Aung Min admitted that clashes took place on February 19 and 20. “It happened because of a misunderstanding between lower level troops. No fighting occurred yesterday or today. Similar incidents might happen in other countries. This will not disrupt the peace talks,” he insisted. 

Shan leaders said the attack was intentionally aim to cut off all connections between the SSPP/SSA on the west bank of the Salween River with the United Wa State Party/ United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA) on the east bank.

Shan leaders told the news agency the Myanmar Army had a standing policy to control every square inch of union territory by “regional clearance” and “regional control” operations.

The Shan group signed a ceasefire agreement with the government on January 28 last year but fighting has never ceased – indeed more 50 military clashes have occurred since then.

“A ceasefire is a firm foundation for peace, but we have much to discuss after ceasefires. It is difficult to hold talks while carrying weapons. Such an incident might happen between low-level troops because they are carrying weapons. This is a further issue to discuss. We are holding talks alternatively with armed ethnic groups,” Aung Min said.  

Although the fighting between the Tatmadaw and Shan troops was not the focus of February 20 talks in Chiang Mai, between the Union Peace Working Committee and an ethnic alliance called the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), Aung Min said the talks could reduce fighting. 

The Shan State Progressive Party and its armed wing, the Shan State Army, are members of the UNFC ethnic alliance, which has about a dozen members.