New clashes between armed ethnic groups and Myanmar’s army have resulted in deaths on both sides, commanders of the groups said Tuesday according to a report by RFA on 22 September.
Fighting in north-eastern Myanmar between Shan State Army - South and Ta’ang National Liberation Army troops and government forces from infantry units 510 and 516 in Shan state resulted in the deaths of troops from both sides in Namhsan and Yatsout townships, said Col. Sai Lai, spokesman for the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South.
Clashes also ensued between government soldiers and Ta’ang National Liberation Army troops in Kyautme and Mongmit townships, said Col. Ta Phone Kyaw of the TNLA.
About 40 percent of Myanmar citizens live in areas that routinely experience armed conflict, and roughly 650,000 have been forced to flee their homes because of the hostilities, according to information presented during a Sept. 20 meeting between the government’s Union Peace-Working Committee (UPWC) and civil society organizations the report said.