Fighting breaks out in three states
Network Media Group
Tuesday, May 15, 2018

The Tatmadaw is fighting against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in the Kachin State, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in the northern Shan State and the Arakan Army in the Rakhine State.

“We heard that clashes broke out in the KIA 4th battalion, 20th battalion, and 6th battalion area. We have received the ground reports and military reports,” Col. Naw Bu, information officer of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), said concerning the clash between the Tatmadaw and the KIA that broke out on May 14.

 “There have been reports of [the Tatmadaw] firing heavy weapons in the 4th battalion area yesterday (May 13). Also, we heard that heavy weapons have been fired in the [KIA] 6th battalion area and a clash broke out afterward,” he continued.

The Tatmadaw has reinforced its troops in KIA 6th battalion, 4th battalion, 20th battalion, and 7th battalion areas so fighting may escalate, according to Col. Naw Bu.

The TNLA’s information officer Maj Mai Aik Kyaw said the Tatmadaw and the TNLA clashed in Muse Township in the northern Shan State on May 14.

“We fought against the Tatmadaw in the area between Nam Awng and Kawng Hkar villages from 10 am to 10:45 am. The main thing is that the Tatmadaw has increased its offensives. Fighting resumed due to the increase in offensives,” he said.

“When we study the clashes, [the Tatmadaw] fights one group after fighting against another. Fighting was intense in the Kachin area in the past. When the clashes have quieted down in the Kachin area, they resume in our area. The Tatmadaw typically does this. They don’t spread out the troops and attack. They attack one group after attacking another. It seems as if they (the Tatmadaw) didn’t want to halt the fighting,” said Maj Mai Aik Kyaw.

The Arakan Army’s Information Department announced that the Tatmadaw and the AA clashed near Konpyin Village in the east of Kaladan River at the India-Myanmar border on May 9 and May 14.

The Office of the Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief has not released anything about the fighting between the Tatmadaw and the EAOs on May 14.

Tensions are also high between the Tatmadaw and the Karen Nation Union (KNU), which has signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement, in Hpa-pun District in the Kayin (Karen) State since March after the Tatmadaw tried to build a road inside the KNU Brigade 5 area for regional development.