Four Clashes in One Day Between TNLA, Tatmadaw

The Ta’ang armed group says battles with government forces have resumed in northern Shan State’s Muse and Kutkai townships.

By NETWORK MEDIA GROUP (NMG)

Monday, October 1, 2018

The spokesperson of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has said that the armed group clashed with Burmese military troops four times in northern Shan State on Friday alone.

According to Maj Mai Aik Kyaw of the TNLA’s information department, battles between the Tatmadaw and TNLA resumed on September 29 in Kutkai and Muse townships.

“We clashed four times in a day with the Burma Army. Battles broke out near Mong Piang village, and clashes occurred twice between Kawng Khar and Nam Oum village. Another clash took place near Nam Poung village. Battles began from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. again,” Maj Mai Aik Kyaw told NMG, adding that the fighting occurred because the Burma Army columns entered TNLA-controlled area.

The number of casualties on either side remains unknown, but the TNLA spokesperson said that “nobody was hurt” in the Ta’ang armed group. He also alleged that Tatmadaw soldiers had been killed but that an exact number was not known.

“We were able to capture their weapons, ammunition and equipment in the battles that took place between Nam Oum and Kawng Khar village,” Maj Aik Kyaw said.

The Tatmadaw’s True News Information Team has yet to release information related to Friday’s clashes.

According to TNLA reports, the group clashed with government troops near Muse’s Nam Oum village at the end of August; battles took place in Kutkai Township on September 1 and 13.