by Than Htike Oo
Monday, 19 January 2009 23:28
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Fierce fighting is taking place between the Shan State Army (South) and the Burmese Arny this month in three townships in southern Shan State, an SSA(S) official said.
SSA(S) forces clashed with the junta’s IB 64 and LIB 513 between January 12 and 15 in Panglong, Hopone, Mongkeung townships in Taungyi District, Shan State.
“Our patrols engaged Burmese Army troops while they were on patrol duty”, SSA spokesman Lt. Sai Seng Mein told Mizzima.
“The clash lasted four hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on January 12 in the jungles west of Mengkai Township. The Burmese Army had 50 soldiers and one of them was killed and five were injured in the gun fight,” he added. SSA(S) had to contend with one of their soldiers being injured, he said.
The place where the clash occurred is in Mengkai region about 100 miles from Taungyi.
After this gun battle both sides did not get reinforcements but the situation is calm for the time being.
The strong Mongtai Army led by Khun Sa surrendered to the Burmese regime in 1996 with over 20,000 soldiers.
After that, the breakaway group led by Col. Yordsek established the SSA. http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1571-clashes-between-ssa-south-and-burmese-army.html
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