Lower House Tables Motion Calling for an End to Shan State Clashes
By Kyaw Kha 16 February 2016
Sai Tun Aung, a Lower House lawmaker for Kyaukme Township representing the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), submitted a proposal on Tuesday calling for an end to fighting in Shan State.
“I urge the national government, the Shan State government and all concerned bodies to end clashes in the Palaung Self-Administered Zone and Kyaukme Township as soon as possible and to take care of suffering war victims, as the lives of citizens, teachers and students are at grave risk,” Sai Tun Aung told fellow MPs.
His proposal was seconded by Nan Kham Aye of Namtu Township, also from the SNLD. The motion was put to a vote and approved by the Parliament’s Lower House for further discussion.
Renewed clashes broke out between the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) on Feb. 7 in northern Shan State, displacing over 3,000 civilians.
“There are over 600 people caught in clashes in Nyaung Maung and Nyaung Bin Hla villages [in Kyaukme Township]. They have phoned many times to plead for rescue. But we are not able to get there,” Sai Maung Than, the leader of a volunteer group helping displaced villagers, told The Irrawaddy.
“At a time when we should be promoting the educational standards of our citizens, teachers and students trapped in these war zones have to flee,” said Nan Kham Aye.
Lower House Speaker Win Myint said the proposal will be discussed at a session on Wednesday.
The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/SSA-N) has offered to mediate a resolution between the two ethnic armed groups. Further clashes were reported on Monday.
