Burma Army continues troop deployment to SSPP/SSA areas, despite promising to withdraw

Despite a promise to the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) by the Burma Army’s Central Eastern Commander that government troops would be withdrawn from contested SSPP/SSA areas, troop reinforcements are still being sent into the area.

After the SSPP/SSA had been forced to withdraw from their Ta Phar Hsawng base in Ke See township in early October, they met with the government’s Union Peace-making Work Committee in Lashio on 18th October, where the Central Eastern Commander General Ko Ko Naing promised that government troops would be withdrawn from the disputed territories.

However, according to local residents, on 20th October 2014, the Eastern Region Command (Ya Pa Kha), based in Taunggyi, sent in at least ten trucks and over 200 troops to the SSPP/SSA controlled area.

“Strangely, the Burma Army has been sending in reinforcements in construction trucks, not military trucks. The soldiers were in civilian clothes, not army uniforms, and they were also hiding their guns and weapons. All troops from Lashio and Kholam were sent to the area in that way,” said a local residents who lives near the LIB 286 base in Murng Nong.  

The government troops are also setting up a base at Ta Phar Hsawng, which they seized from the SSPP/SSA. They are ordering villagers to voluntarily provide them with bamboo, wood, and thatch to build their base, according to local villagers. 
“General Ko Ko Naing said that the government troops that had been attacking the Ta Phar Hsawng base would retreat. He said that only two Burma Army units would stay in the area, and five units would be withdrawn. But so far we haven’t seen any sign that they will withdraw. Instead, they are digging trenches. In Murng Hsu we have seen around 10 military trucks moving toward Murng Ort. Since 17th October, there have also been 6 military trucks coming down from Tangyan,” said one of the SSPP/SSA commanders at the frontlines.

According to an officer from the SSPP/SSA headquarters, the Central Eastern Command has demanded that the SSPP/SSA withdraw all their troops from the areas of Tah Phar Hsawng, Pan Ze, and Loi Yoi, in Ke See township, within five days, or they would have to use force to drive out the SSPP/SSA. 
Apart from promising to withdraw their troops at the Lashio meeting, the Burma Army also agreed to provide compensation of around 2.2 million kyats (USD 2,200) to the war refugees and to villagers whose homes were destroyed and who lost their property due to the fighting in Ta Phar Hsawng. However, according to local residents, no compensation has yet been given to any villagers.

The SSPP/SSA and the Burmese government signed a union level cease fire agreement nearly three years ago, but there has continued to be fighting between the two sides. Accusing the SSPP/SSA of intruding into Union territories, the Burma Army has progressively occupied SSPP/SSA areas and bases.