Mistrust overshadows peace talks

The escalation is ahead of Union Day on February 12, when the entire nation commemorates the day in 1947 that General Aung San unified Myanmar.

The Army’s shelling of Kachin Independence Army (KIA) cadet academy in November has hurt ethnic armed groups’ trust in the government. Several skirmishes followed, just as the nation attempted to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement. In January, all parties talked about signing the agreement on Union Day. Later, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), a gathering of ethnic groups, urged the government to show their sincerity in restoring peace by signing a pact to establish a federal union on Union Day. It said the pact would guarantee the right to democracy, national equality and autonomy to each state.

In a statement released on January 28, UNFC criticised the absence of explanation over the Army’s shelling KIA military academy in Laiza, Kachin State. The statement also pointed out government troops' clashes with ethnic groups such as KIA, Ta'aung National Libration Army and Shan State Progressive Party, adding that such clashes could lead to regional instability.

It remains unclear whether any deal would be reached on the Union Day. Worse, the situation apparently worsened.

Last week alone, the latest escalation of fighting in northeastern border areas claimed an estimated 20 lives.

A spokesman for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), one of two major groups still locked in conflict with Myanmar's military, said two helicopter gunships attacked its troops in northern Shan state on Tuesday.

"In the evening of February 3rd, there was attack by gunships and some villagers were injured as well," major Tar Pan Hla told AFP, adding that "shooting came from two helicopters".

State media on Friday said five soldiers have been killed in Shan state and a four in Kachin state since Monday. A further 11 rebels fighters were also reported to have died.

Tar Pan Hla said nine Myanmar soldiers and one TNLA solider were killed Monday when clashes erupted as rebel fighters tried to destroy opium poppy fields.

The government and rebels often report different deaths tolls from clashes.

Myanmar's government, which replaced junta rule in 2011, has vowed to end the civil wars that have been flaring on and off since independence as a key part of its reforms.

Kachin's conflict has raged since a 17-year ceasefire between rebels and the government splintered in 2011, driving almost 100,000 civilians from their homes.

The United Nations local representative on Thursday raised concerns about violence which flared last month around Kachin's Hpakant township, a jade-rich area near the border with China, trapping hundreds of civilians. 

UN resident and humanitarian coordinator to Myanmar Renata Dessallien said some 1,000 civilians had been displaced and a further 1,000 affected by the fighting.

"I appeal to all parties to the conflict to allow the displaced people and other civilians who remain in close proximity to the area of conflict to be permitted to move to a more secure location," she said in a statement, calling for humanitarian access to the area.

Decades of bloody conflict in the Myanmar's borderlands have left a legacy of deep distrust of the military.

The violent deaths of two Kachin teachers last month in Shan state, allegedly at the hands of government soldiers, has also stoked anger among minorities. The army denies its troops were responsible.