Soldiers from the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)clashed on Monday near Thibaw township in northern Shan state, though no one was injured or killed, RFA reported on 19 December quoting an officer from the TNLA and a state parliamentarian.
The hostilities occurred in an area where both ethnic Shan and Palaung (Ta’ang) groups live, Major Mine Aik Kyaw of the TNLA was quoted as saying. He also said a battle was under way between government armed forces and the TNLA in the town of Kutkai.
The RCSS/SSA, which is a nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) signatory, has also engaged in periodic skirmishes with the Myanmar army, the latest of which occurred on 16 December near Shan state’s capital Taunggyi.