The Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) has refused to vacate its three camps in southern Shan State, defying another request from the Burma Army (BA), to which the regime has offered yet another round of talks hoping to persuade them to leave the area.

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”We’ll continue to protect our area and our people,” Maj Phone Harn, SSPP spokesperson, told SHAN.

On 20 July, the group informed Lt-Gen Yar Pyae of BA and its Eastern Command by letter that they wouldn’t withdraw. Through the Eastern Command, Yar Pyae wrote back on 22 July, offering to meet for discussions.

”Our central committee will meet to talk about the recent offer from BA,” explained Phone Harn.

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

On 1 July, fighting broke out between the groups in Mongmit Township and tensions between the groups have been high ever since.

Yar Pyae and seven BA officials met with SSPP vice-chair Maj Gen Khun Hseng and five other leaders to discuss the matter in Mong Nawng on 14 July, and the BA gave them more time.

“What really happens depends on them, because they’ve ordered us to withdraw from our military camps.”

The SSPP didn’t sign the so-called Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, but signed a bilateral agreement under Thein Sein’s government in 2012.