Two Burma Army troops were killed and two seriously injured during fighting with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Kyawkme township, northern Shan State on April 7.

The clash broke out between Pangsang village and Hu Kok village on Tuesday when Light Infantry Division 77 entered a TNLA-controlled area, a local source reported.

“The military column from Burma Army Division 77, with about 100 troops, launched an offensive against Ta’ang Battalion 987. The fighting occurred at around 6:40 in the morning, and lasted about 30 minutes, with two Burma Army soldiers dead and two injured. But there were no casualties on our side, as it was in our area,” said TNLA information officer Mai Aik Kyaw.

Last month, ten villagers in Kyawkme township were forced to be porters for Burma Army troops in the conflict zone, a Kyawkme resident said.

“If the Burma Army continues to send troops into our territory, it will be difficult to reach a nationwide ceasefire agreement. If the government is really sincere about political dialogue, they should withdraw their troops,” said Mai Aik Kyaw.

Since January 2015, there have been more than 80 clashes between the Burma Army and TNLA.

The TNLA is a member of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) that signed a joint statement affirming completion of a draft Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the Union Peacemaking Work Committee on 31 March.