A fire fight broke out on 24 February from 2:30 to 3:30 P.M. between the RCSS/SSA and a column from Burma Army’s IB 66 based in Kholum, Southern Shan State, killing 5, including its leader, Col Kyaw Myint Htun. 8 assorted guns, a walkie-talkie and other military hardware were captured, according to SSA spokesman Sai Hsai Merng. He said that the RCSS has written to inform President Thein Sein that the intrusion of the Burma Army into its area has triggered the clash and that it is ready to hand over the captured weapons, if the government so desired
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Renewed armed conflict between the Shan State Progress Party/ Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and Burma Army, which started last week continues sporadically even after President Thein Sein ordered its troops to stop offensive last Saturday, according to SSA news sources.
On 23 February, the Shan State Progress Party/ Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) sent a letter to the President, containing six points, after which the Burma Army began to posture as if it was withdrawing, when in reality it was not doing anything of that nature.
Following the letter to the President, head of the north-eastern military command sent a message to Lashio SSPP/SSA liaison officer that the SSA should not ambush the Burma Army, while they collect their deaths.
“They were not just collecting their deaths and wounded but closing in on SSA positions. Also troops under the Military Operation Command 2 were reinforcing the area around Mong Awt, Mong Hsu Township. At the moment, military tension is on the rise around Wan Loi village and if armed conflict occurs it could be prolonged”, according to a SSPP/SSA officer.
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