Burma-Myanmar: Clashes between army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) rebels, killed 7 Burmese soldiers in Shan State
TNLA troops on the march in northern Shan State’s Kyauk Mae Township. (Photo: JPaing / The Irrawaddy)
Conflict between government troops and armed rebels left at least seven Burmese soldiers dead and another 20 injured in eastern Burma late last week, state media reported on Monday.
State-owned daily Global New Light of Myanmar said the clash was prompted by a rebel “ambush” on government columns in Kunlong Township, located in northern Shan State near the border with China. The deadly incident took place on Dec. 10, the report said.
“The remnant Kokang insurgent group launched unprovoked attacks on Tatmadaw [Burma Army] camps and columns while the government is implementing the peace process and the Tatmadaw is determined to effectively counter the attacks in cooperation with local people,” read Monday’s report.
The Kokang are an ethnic minority primarily in northern Shan State, occupying a border territory between the Salween River and the Chinese border. Their roughly 3,000-strong army is known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).