Heavy clashes between the junta and Shan State Army (SSA), the armed wing of the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), resumed in Laikho Township, Shan State on Sunday, according to SSPP and local media reports.
The SSPP has twice met with coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing for peace talks that were boycotted by other major armed ethnic organizations for being fraudulent and not inclusive.
But the rebel group failed to achieve its political aims from the meetings.
An intense clash broke out near Nant Pauk village at 6.15 am on Sunday when a military unit of 70 troops attacked an SSA base, said the SSPP.
Meanwhile, a series of clashes broke out at Mat Lang village when SSA troops attacked the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 573 stationed at the village in the township.
Junta infantry were supported by artillery.
An SSPP official told local media outlet Shan News that their forces had detained two junta soldiers and seized two weapons and a military vehicle.
Around 20 regime troops were killed in the clashes, the resistance official said.
The Irrawaddy was unable to confirm the military casualties independently.
SSPP said they also lost a comrade in the clashes.
Before the clashes, the junta had repeatedly demanded that the SSPP quit its 10 bases in the township, but the Shan rebel group refused. On August 4 and 5, regime forces shelled SSPP bases in the township.
After failing to achieve their aims via the sham peace talks, the SSPP issued a statement in early February following their annual meeting to declare that building a federal union that can guarantee equality and self-autonomy is the main way to build unity and sustainable peace in the country. It said it would thus coordinate with groups that want a federal union and democracy.
Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) has also approached the SSPP to cooperate in building a federal union.
