Fighting between two Shan armed groups, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), in Kyaukgu, Yatsauk Township in Southern Shan State, has displaced more than 2,000 people, according to a person displaced by the conflict.

The clashes intensified on February 8 and continued until February 11.

“Locals have to run in Yatsauk. Some even ran away to their close relatives. It is currently estimated that more than 2,000 people have been displaced,” according a displaced person, referring to a list that has been compiled of IDPs.

Villagers are still trapped inside at least eight villages including Shan, Thone, Thamin Paung, Kon Hein, Kyauk Sone and also Kyaukgu village, the main fighting area, he added.

The RCSS withdrew to the southern part of Kyauk Gu village on 10 February after heavy fighting between 8 and 9 February, Colonel Sai Phone Han, a spokesperson from SSPP told Mizzima.

However, "If the RCSS comes back and launches an offensive, fighting could still break out," he commented.

Two SSPP members were injured when two military planes fired during a clash between two Shan armed groups on 9 February, he added.

More than 20 soldiers, including an RCSS brigade commander, and about 30 weapons were confiscated during the clash and detained in accordance with the rules protecting prisoners of war (POWs), he said.

Fighting intensified on both sides of the Shan Armed Forces and the battle area ranged from 6 to 10 kilometers and thus no detailed casualties were provided about the clash, RCSS spokesman Major Kham San told Mizzima.

"If that happened then it would be a profit for the junta. A bomb also exploded near the RCSS. That's why we had to withdraw," he said regarding the shooting incident by two military planes from the military junta.

Spokesmen from both Shan armed groups told Mizzima that they did not want clashes that would lead to local people being displaced and thus the way to dialogue was open.

The two sides have agreed to hold talks, but both groups have blamed each other for not holding a dialogue.

The fighting has stopped in the Kyaukgu area in Yatsauk Township, but military tensions still remain, according to a military analyst.

IDPs from about 20 villages are living in the houses of relatives and friends from nearby villages, as well as in religious buildings. If fighting continues, it could become more difficult, said a local.

"We are facing both the COVID-19 disease and the clashes, so I don't think we have anything worse. That is why I want to request the two leaders to negotiate,” said a local person.