Roundup: Conflicts continue despite ceasefire signing in Myanmar

Myanmar military has recently announced intervention in two ethnic armed groups' fighting in Namhsam and Kyaukme townships in the country's Shan state-North.

The military will conduct combined operations in the areas against the conflicts between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)/Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and Taaung National Liberation Army (TNLA).

The RCSS/SSA-S is one of eight armed ethnic groups out of 15 that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) with the government on Oct. 15 last year, while the TNLA was not invited to sign the agreement.

Fighting has erupted between the two armed groups in Shan state's Namhkam township since last November and their clashes intensified in mid-February this year in the area around Lotnaw village, forcing nearly 4,000 people to flee the area.

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

Denouncing the acts of the RCSS/SSA-S group, the military's North-East Command asked the group to return to the territory designated for them.

However, the call was rejected by the group as it deployed more troops in the areas.

In the wake of this situation, a proposal was submitted to the parliamentary House of Representatives (Lower House), calling for an end to current conflicts in Shan state-North's Palaung autonomous zones and Kyaukme township as soon as possible.

The Myanmar government, signatory ethnic armed groups and the civil society have also agreed to seek ways to prevent further clashes, a statement of the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JCMC) said.

The JCMC said at that time it reserves the right to take action against any party responsible for further clashes, adding that all the committee members remain steadfast in the peace process.

Meanwhile, the government's Union Peace-Making Work Committee on Monday lodged a protest with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) against its expansion of forces in Shan state-North, warning that there will be no good outcome out of such a move which ignored the peace efforts.

The Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15, involved in peace deal with the government, initiated the NCA in Nay Pyi Taw on Oct. 15 last year, under the witness of local and international observers.

As part of the efforts to implement the NCA, two joint committees were formed shortly after its signing, namely the JCMC set up to prevent recurrence of armed clashes, and the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee to facilitate political dialogue.

The government and the eight ethnic armed groups also agreed to bring in seven other ethnic armed groups that have yet to sign the NCA to complete the truce signing process. Endit