Rangoon holding

Rangoon holding "war talks" with Shans

War

Prodded by the neighboring countries, Rangoon has begun to hold peace talks with the Karen National Union and a new round of negotiations with the Karenni National Progress Party appears to be on the way, but with the Shan State's remaining major armed movement, the Shan State Army "South" of Col Yawdserk, the only talks that are being conducted are in the battlefield with smoking guns both in southern and eastern Shan State, according sources coming to Thailand. 

Since January, fighting in Tachilek, opposite Chiangrai, had somewhat cooled down but another had flared up in townships east of Taunggyi, the state capital. On 11 January, a column from Light Infantry Battalion 336, led by acting commander Maj Thaike Soe, staged a surprise raid in Mongnai that resulted in the SSA suffering 6-dead, including a woman, in Mongnai township. In retaliation, the SSA's 759th Brigade, commanded by Maj Khamleng, descended on Takun village, Mongnai's Kengtawn sub-twonship, where the Military Operations Command #7's Light Infantry Battalion 574 was headquartered, 3 days later. 

Since then, fighting has been reported in Mongkerng, Laikha, Namzarng, Kunhing, Mongnai, Langkher and Mongpan, though heavy casualties are not noted by either side. "As for us ordinary people, the war is making our life more difficult to bear with," said a farmer from Mongpan. "We were ordered by the Burmese (Army) not to visit our fields outside the village limits. Anyone found would be shot on sight. They were also arresting everyone suspected of aiding the SSA. And we might turn out to be the next on their list. So we left." 

Clashes in Mongton began with the SSA ambush of a three-truck military convoy, escorted by LIB 524, heading from Mongton to the border, on 19 February. The SSA's 727th Brigade, commanded by Maj Ternkhurh is active in the area. "A day has rarely passed since without any reports of fighting between the two sides," said a source from Nakawngmu, a town between Mongton and BP-1 near the Thai border. 

According to the latest report, motor vehicles shuttling between Nakawngmu and Mongton have been, since 1 March, forbidden from moving out without an armed escort. "The Army told us an armed escort would be provided only if there were no less than 5-vehicles," said a truck driver.