Myanmar’s military has joined forces with an armed ethnic group that recently signed a “nationwide cease-fire agreement” with the government to launch an offensive against a holdout rebel army in the country’s Shan state, sources said Tuesday.
Captain Mai Aie Kyaw, a spokesman for the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), told RFA’s Myanmar Service that his group had clashed with the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and government troops in recent days near Mong Wee village in northern Shan state’s Namhkam township.
“We’ve been fighting against the RCSS (Restoration Council of Shan State) since Nov. 27,” he said, referring to the political organization which oversees the SSA-S.
“During the last three days, government forces have joined the RCSS in fighting us.”