SSPP Clash With Burma Army In Hsipaw
By Network Media Group
Sunday, November 27, 2022
Hundreds of villagers were forced to flee fighting after the Burma Army (BA) reportedly invaded a village controlled by the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) in Hsipaw Township, northern Shan State.
According to the SSPP, the BA entered Kon Tha on Friday 25 November, one day after the end of the Shan New Year festival. Villagers and members of the New Year Committee were reportedly cleaning up after the three-day holiday when 80 regime soldiers from Infantry Battalions 68 and 23 arrived at around 6am. SSPP sentries stationed in the village fired the first shots, after which fighting broke out between the groups for almost an hour. One regime soldier reportedly died and four Shan fighters were wounded.
“The villagers told us that both the BA and the SSPP have suffered casualties, but I can’t say how many,” a man who provided assistance to the civilians told NMG, wishing to remain anonymous.
The SSPP told NMG that 600 civilians had taken shelter at the Loung Yun Buddhist monastery and Botaw monastery in Hsipaw town. Fighting is expected to continue after both armed groups deployed more troops to the area.
SSPP representatives recently attended a so-called peace meeting called by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw. At the same time, clashes have been breaking out between the groups in southern Shan State, where the BA has been trying to force the Shan group to withdraw from a hilltop camp.
NMG attempted to reach the SSPP spokesperson for comment, but he hadn’t responded by press time.
