The SSPP alleges that RCSS forces assisted government troops; RCSS denies this allegation.

Government troops and forces from the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) clashed for two days this week in central Shan State, an SSPP/SSA representative told SHAN.

Witnesses say that fighting occurred from March 7-8 at the SSPP/SSA’s Loi Pan Hkar military camp, located in the mountains where Hsipaw, Kesi and Mongkurng townships meet. The camp is remote, and reportedly far from villages.

The Burma Army sent reinforcement troops to the area via the Mongkurng-Tong Lau road, locals reported.

“Battles started at mid-day today. They continued intensified until this evening,” an SSPP/SSA officer told SHAN on Friday, adding that the Burma Army had sent in two columns of reinforcements. He also alleged that forces from the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) had been fighting alongside government troops on both days.

However, RCSS/SSA spokesperson Col Sai Oo told SHAN that these allegations were untrue and that their troops had not participated in the fighting.

“There were clashes between SSPP/SSA and the government forces in the Nar Makhaw area. Our RCSS/SSA forces were not involved in these clashes. The report that the RCSS and government forces came together to attack the SSPP is not true,” he explained. “The Burma Army has been around the area where the clashes happened, so many people are confused,” he added.

Firing on Loi Pang Hkar began on the morning of March 7. SSPP/SSA representatives say that they have recovered three bodies belonging to Tatmadaw troops, including soldiers ranked sergeant, corporal, and a private. SHAN was unable to independently confirm these casualties at the time of reporting.

The Burma Army declared a four-month unilateral ceasefire between December 2018 and April 2019 in five command areas, including in Shan State.