Junta breaks ceasefire in northern Shan State

By Admin 13 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
13 January 2024, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime on Friday carried out air and artillery attacks on villages in northern Shan State, breaking a ceasefire reached the day prior, according to the Brotherhood Alliance.

The regime and the Brotherhood Alliance agreed to a temporary ceasefire in northern Shan State on Thursday following two days of talks brokered by China.

While the Brotherhood Alliance, which is made up of the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army, carried out no attack in northern Shan State, the military carried out airstrikes on villages there, the alliance said.

Artillery strikes were reported in four northern Shan State townships, namely Namhsan, Namtu and Kayukme, and Hsipaw, and neighbouring Mogoke Township in Mandalay Region on Friday, according to the Brotherhood Alliance.

The regime carried out five airstrikes in Kwel Hel Village, Namhsan Township, damaging a tea factory. A few houses and a school were damaged in Manli Village, Namtu Township.

The regime also carried out artillery strikes on villages in Kyaukme, Hsipaw and Mogoke townships.

Under the temporary truce, the alliance agreed not to seize any more junta outposts or towns in northern Shan State, while the junta agreed to refrain from conducting airstrikes and shelling in the area. Both sides agreed to resolve any disputes that might arise through dialogue.

The Brotherhood Alliance has seized Chin Shwe Haw, Kunlong, Monekoe, Kyukok (Pansai), Konkyan, Laukkai, Namkham, Namhsan, Mantong, Monglong, Mongngaw, Namtu, Kutkai towns in northern Shan State since they launched a large-scale offensive known as Operation 1027 in northern Shan State.

Despite the truce, the Brotherhood Alliance said in its statement on January 12 that its members would stand by the Myanmar people until their common goal — to root out military dictatorship in Myanmar — is achieved.