Myanmar military announces intervention in ethnic armed group fighting

Myanmar military has announced intervention in two ethnic armed groups' fighting in Namhsam and Kyaukme townships in the country's Shan state-north, official media reported Wednesday.

The military will conduct combined operations in the areas, a military announcement was quoted as saying.

Fightings intensified between Shan State Army-South (SSA)-S, led by Ywet Sit, and Taaung National Liberation Army (TNLA) in the first half of this month and their clashes have forced 3,657 people to flee.

Due to clashes, villages were set on fire, monks were arrested and some villagers were killed, the report said.

Denouncing the acts of SSA-S Ywet Sit Group, the military's North-East Command asked the group to return to the territory designated for them through the joint Monitoring Committee and the Myanmar Peace Center.

However, the SSA-S Ywet Sit Group rejected to comply with but deployed more troops in the areas, the report added.

Meanwhile, an important proposal was submitted to the parliamentary House of Representatives (Lower House) on Feb. 16, urging to end the current conflict in Shan state-North's Palaung autonomous zones and Kyaukme township as soon as possible.

TNLA troops have been fighting with SSA-Ywet Sit Group in Namhkam township since last November, but their clashes have intensified in the middle of this month in the area around Lotnaw village.

The SSA-S was one of eight armed ethnic groups that signed the ceasefire pact with the government on Oct. 15 last year.

The TNLA, along with two other armed ethnic groups, was not invited to sign the agreement. Enditem