Myanmar gov't forces clash with Rakhine ethnic armed group

Myanmar government forces clashed with an unidentified Rakhine ethnic armed group in western Rakhine state Friday as the government troops were patrolling in some areas of the state for security reason, official report said Saturday.

Upon information that the Rakhine armed group, which the government terms insurgent, has infiltrated into Paletwa area, the government forces were engaged in fighting with the Rakhine armed group at Pinlong village and at a highland near Aung Lan Chaung village on the first day of Myanmar new year.

The report claimed that the Rakhine armed group has been retreating, adding that the government forces continued to comb the areas in order to prevent such infiltration.

The clashes took place when Myanmar government forces were also battling the Kokang ethnic army in the northeastern Shan state during Myanmar's water festival period which lasted from Monday to Thursday.

In the Kokang battlefield, the government forces claimed occupation of a number of strategic top hills using heavy weapons, tank and air strike and gained total control of key locations of Laukkai, the capital of Kokang region.

Meanwhile, peace negotiators of the Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups concluded negotiation of a draft nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) on March 30 and the draft accord was preliminarily signed in Yangon on March 31, leaving the formal signing to be completed after the draft NCA is approved by top level of respective sides. Endi