The unprovoked attack occurred at SSA-N Brigade-3 Mong Kher region in Northern Shan State while a meeting was being held. There could be some casualties on the side of the SSA-N , and the SSA-N fighters are said to be so outraged by the attack that there are even plans to carry out retaliatory attacks, according to someone close to the SSA. The Burmese troops have now retreated from the region.

DVB tried to contact the SSA-N for comments regarding the report but was unsuccessful. But Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Burmese military observer based on the Sino-Burmese border told DVB that a column of Burmese soldiers from a battalion under the command of Northeast Command carried out a fifteen minutes long surprise attack on the SSA-N.

“While they were holding a meeting, they were fired upon with small weapons from outside. Whether they were fired upon with small weapon s or big weapons (artilleries), at least 3-4 people would be wounded anyway,” said Aung Kyaw Zaw.

Similarly, on 2 January, the base of another ceasefire group, Kachin Independent Organisation (KIO) at nearby Mu-se came under unprovoked attack from Burmese soldiers killing six KIO members who were having dinner.

Aung Kyaw Zaw added that the latest attacks show that the SPDC is seriously planning to disarm all the ethnic national peace groups who signed ceasefire agreements with it, by restricting their political, commercial and military activities and intimidating and attacking them.

Source: Shan Herald Agency for News