The Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP/SSA) told Mizzima that it was not true that the United Wa State Army (UWSA) had reinforced thousands of troops and that the SSPP was carrying drugs and being destroyed.

Regarding the news written by Mizzima yesterday (June 29), SSPP Colonel Sai Phone Han told Mizzima that the statements by locals were not true. The statements by locals are as follows: The United Wa State Army (UWSA) re-enforced the SSPP area in Kyethi Township, southern Shan State with around 2,000 troops and 107 military vehicles and full ammunition over previous days. Prior to the current fighting, the SSPP had used billions of dollars’ worth of illegal narcotics smuggled into the border by RCSS in three vehicles. The RCSS says it destroys illegal narcotics due to its anti-narcotics policy.

"We and the Wa have a territorial demarcation. We assume the report about Wa reinforcements was written without evidence. It is questionable what the evidence is about the drug issue. We have demanded our superiors to refute the report," he said.

Mizzima contacted the SSPP to confirm the information by locals and some refugees Yesterday (July 29), but could not be reached due technical issues.

Some locals in Shan State have been writing news about the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and SSPP either each side.

With thousands of UWSA troops reinforcements, fighting is likely to intensify in the coming days, and some IDPs told Mizzima on June 29 that refugees need to be relocated to nearby towns as soon as possible.

clashes between the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP / SSA) and the Shan State Reconstruction Council (RCSS / SSA) began in Kethi and Mong Naung on June 1, according to locals.