Burma-Myanmar: Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) ethnic armed groups clash in Yebyu
The Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), the armed wing of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), which recently signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the government, clashed with NCA signatory the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA) on Sunday in Tanintharyi Region’s Yebyu Township.
Nai Aung Min, a central executive committee member of the NMSP, said clashes broke out when MNLA troops asked KNLA troops about their abduction of locals. He added that an MNLA member was injured in the clash.
“They detained crop growers. We went to see what happened and there was an encounter. One of our troops was injured,” he told The Irrawaddy, adding that the abductees escaped after the two sides clashed.
The NMSP signed the NCA with the National League for Democracy-led government on Feb. 13 and the KNU signed with U Thein Sein’s government in 2015.