Clashes in northern Shan State displace thousands



YANGON: -- Recent fighting between the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in northern Shan State has displaced over 2,000 civilians in Kyaukme Township, The Irrawaddy reported.

Htay Win, a local member of the National League for Democracy, said a committee had been established to provide assistance for almost 2,700 residents from 24 villages who have fled their homes since renewed fighting between the two ethnic armed groups flared earlier this month.

The committee has been providing accommodation and food supplies for uprooted villagers from Shan and Palaung communities, with donations from locals.

Displaced civilians, including from Tauk San, a small village around 35 miles outside Kyaukme, are reportedly sheltering in some 16 monasteries in Kyaukme Township.

Fighting between the Shan and Ta’ang armed groups has been reported on successive days since Feb 7 across three townships in northern Shan State—Namkham, Namhsan and Kyaukme. Both sides have accused the other of being at fault.

The SSA-S was among eight armed groups that signed the so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the government in mid-October. The TNLA by contrast was not recognized by the government and excluded from the negotiations.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/151094


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-16

With the recent supposed advance in democracy and the diplomatic applause it is curious as to why the long term conflict has flaired again.

Almost as curious as to why and how a country that has been subjected to long term sanction has such a myriad of globally sourced military aircraft to train pilots and attack dissident jungle fighters.

As usual the myth conflicts with the legend!