The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched an attack on the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) camp in Nawngping Village Tract in Kyaukme Township, Shan State.

Tensions between the two sides have increased since TNLA forced SSPP camp near Nawngping police station to leave in the last week of June. This situation escalated into a shootout around 10:30 am on July 5, and significant military tensions are now looming in the region, according to Kyaukme residents.

“There is an SSPP camp near Lokepar Village on the eastern side of Nawngping Village Tract. The shootout began after reinforced TNLA troops approached the camp from the main road. Since the end of June, tensions have escalated between the two sides over the camp’s deployment”, a local source said.

On June 26, TNLA troops sealed off the cottage hospital, village high school, and rural clinic in Nawngping after taking control of the junta’s offices and the administrative and civil service departments in Kyaukme.

Since June 25, fierce clashes between the TNLA-PDF (People’s Defence Force) coalition and junta troops have erupted in Nawngkio (Naungcho) and Kyaukme townships. The most intense fighting continues in Nawngping -Gotetwin, about 15 miles from the two townships.

Simultaneously, TNLA-PDF coalition and junta forces are waging a fierce war in the northern Shan State towns of Lashio and Hsipaw (Thibaw), hence thousands of residents from Lashio, Hsipaw, Nawngkio, and Kyaukme are fleeing to safety.

During the ceasefire period following the first phase of ‘Operation 1027,’ SSPP engaged in disputes with TNLA over camp deployments in Kyaukme and Monglon.

Neither SSPP nor TNLA responded to SHAN’s inquiries on the matter.

On May 27, SSPP troops stationed in villages along the Ruili (Shweli) River in Namhkam Township were disarmed by TNLA, loaded into vehicles, and evicted to Muse Township. SSPP spokesperson Major Sai Phone Han told SHAN that this was a forced removal by TNLA, misusing its superior strength.