Government troops attack TNLA group
Posted By: PNA
Post Date : 22 March 2013
On the same day that marked historic
talks between a Palaung senator and the Myanmar government, 100 soldiers from
Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 502 attacked troops from the Ta'ang National
Liberation Army (TNLA). The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) Battalion 8 and TNLA
Battalion 101 were attacked in yesterday's 5 p.m. raid, which took place in the
Nantleik mountain ridge of Kutkai, located in the Muse township of Northern Shan
state.
A TNLA commander commented on the attack
by saying “Government troops sent the villagers to move in and to tell the TNLA
to move from the region.”
Three days earlier the government
similarly ordered TNLA forces to move from Pagan area. “When the government
told us (TNLA) to move for Pagan we obliged, but we refuse to move now from
Nantleik village. We replied we will not be removed from Nantliek mountain and
they (government troops) reacted by marching in on us to threaten us, ” he
added.
The conflict lasted for about 1 hour,
with government troops taking a serious hit to their operative forces.
According to a porter for the government military, at least 10 soldiers were
mortally wounded and 5 soldiers sustained critical injuries. After the initial
conflict, fighting continued in Pan Nyo village. In the small village, fighting
started at 6 pm , at which time 100 soldiers from Infantry Battalion (IB) 123
moved in towards Pagan mountain ridge, near Nantleik and surrounded the area.
Accounts were relayed by local people living in Nan Phet Ka.
Strategist have commented on the
strategic significance of the Nantleik battle – noting the centrality of the
area and citing it as the place where the June 2011 battle, that ended the
17-year ceasefire agreement between the KIA and Myanmar government, erupted.
Analyst attribute the success of the rebel forces against government forces in
previous conflicts to cooperation between the SSPP and the KIA.
At the time of the March 21st
battle, a senator from the Palaung territory was discussing ceasefire prospects
between the PSLF and the military with the Myanmar government. A Paloung
analyst considers that the timing of the attack was planned to give added
pressure to both sides to control the area before signing a ceasefire
agreement.
“If the government wishes to get a
ceasefire, they should stop fighting with the TNLA, ” a Palaung analyst
commented.
The Nantleik mountain ridge is currently
occupied by the PNLA and the KIA; the two groups maintain they will not move
from the area.
Both the PSLF and KIA are members of the UNFC (United Nationalities Federal Council).
The Myanmar government has established ceasefire agreements with all members of
the UNFC with the exception of the KIA, PSLF, KNLP (Kayan New Land Party), and
WNUP (Wa National Unity Party).
The government has tried aggressively to
suppress KIA power since the attack on the group in 2011.
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