Fighting between army and Kachin Independent Army (KIA) occurred for about 30 minutes in the border of Lashio and Kutkai in northern Shan State on March 6, sources said.

Col. Naw Bu, spokesperson of the KIA confirmed the news.

He said, “The fighting occurred as the army intruded the area occupied by No.8 battalion under No.4 regiment of the KIA. It is lasted for about 30 minutes. We haven’t had information about it in details.”

The army used three battalions to attack their No.7 battalion and the place where the fighting occurred is far away from the residential area, said the colonel.

Although the Daily Eleven contacted the secretary of Tatmadaw True News Information Team in concerned with the fighting, no response is made.

The fighting is reduced significantly after the army announced a one-sided ceasefire plan in five military regions for four months on December 21.

The army organized a negotiation team to discuss peace issue with ethnic armed groups during the ceasefire plan and only Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) is met with the negotiation team at the present.

The KIA informally met with government delegation in Kunming, China.