The local charter of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in Namkham Township and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) have provided aid to local residents who have suffered from war and fire in Namkham Township, northern Shan State.

Sai Non, an SNLD’s youth leader said the SNLD and the SSPP/SSA donated 5 million Kyats together on May 8^th for 300 residents of Hopang Village whose homes were set on fire on May 6.

“We went to provide our assistance together with the SSPP/SSA’s No 9 township authority. We inquired about the incident and the situation. We received some information. This can aid in the peace process,” Sai Non said.

Namkham Township’s SNLD donated 3 million kyats and the SSPP/SSA donated 2 million kyats to the Hopang Shan Literature and Cultural Association.

“A truck full of food and supplies was sent on May 9th and another truck full of food and supplies was sent on May 10th” Sai Non said.

Members of an armed group entered Hopang village, which has over 60 households, and set fire to the houses, according to local residents.

Although the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and local residents have accused Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) of setting the village on fire, the TNLA denied the accusation and claimed that the fire broke out as a result of the battle between the RCSS/SSA and the TNLA.

Fighting broke out between the RCSS/SSA and the TNLA over territory disputes in late 2015. Since the clashes began thousands of local residents from Namkham, Marntong, and Kyaukme townships have fled from their homes.