Fighting between the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and the Burma Army (BA) has intensified in Mongmit Township, where the armed groups are facing off after the regime ordered the SSPP to withdraw from the area in northern Shan State last week.

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A local, who doesn’t wish to be named, told SHAN that the fighting is taking place on Huay Kham Hill, about a mile from Wan Ohm village. “Both the SSPP and the BA are firing heavy and light weapons and I think the fighting is escalating.” The BA has sent reinforcements from Wan Fai Mai in the hope of capturing the SSPP camp on the hill.

Three BA columns are attacking the camp from different directions, according to SSPP. At the time of going to press, SHAN couldn’t determine causalities on either side. The groups also clashed in the township on 17 September and 1 July.

Last week, top SSPP leaders attended the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee meeting at Panghsang (also known as Pangkham), the headquarters of the United Wa State Army, in Special Region 2. The other armed groups include the National Democratic Alliance Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Kachin Independence Army.