The regime’s armed forces have once again ordered the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) to withdraw from three camps in southern Shan State.

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According to SSPP spokesperson Maj Phone Han, the Burma Army (BA) gave the Shan armed group seven days to decide what to do during a meeting.

BA’s Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and seven officials from the army met with SSPP vice-chair Maj Gen Khun Hseng and five other leaders to discuss the matter in Mong Nawng on 14 July.

Phong Harn told SHAN they intended to respond to the junta after SSPP’s central committee meet to talk about it.

“They have ordered us to withdraw from our military camps. But what happens really will depend on them. We do not want our people to suffer and we’re trying to avoid fighting.”

The BA has issued three ultimatums to SSPP to vacate its camps in Loi Nai and Mang Weing. The first one was on 10 June. After the Shan armed group refused to comply, it was extended until 30 June.

On 1 July, fighting between the groups broke out in Mongmit Township.

SSPP hasn’t signed the so called Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, but signed a bilateral agreement under the Thein Sein government in 2012.

The armed group is part of the Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee with several other groups based in northern Shan and Kachin states.