A skirmish between forces of Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLO) in Mongpan in southern Shan State on October 16, sources said.

Both groups are signatories to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

The skirmish occurred for two times in the morning and afternoon. Several casualties have been reported from both sides.

“The fighting occurred on October 16 and the place where the fighting occurred was not a PNLO controlled territory before. We fought them because we initially didn’t know they were from the PNLO. We had some casualties for both sides but we don’t know about it in exact details,” said Lt-Col Sai Oo, spokesperson and head of Liaison Office (Taunggyi) from the RCSS/SSA.

The RCSS forces were operating in the area where the fighting occurred, he added.

Col. Khun Oakkar, patron of the PNLO said that the Pa-O ethnics and others living in villages in Kaungtan area seek their help as they felt unsafe living in that area. So their forces went over to help them but encountered with the RCSS forces. The liaison office of Taunggyi reported that there was a little misunderstanding between them.

“The locals said they have been forced to join and were demanded to contribute provisions. So our troops were sent to the area. They intended to make contact with local organizations. But they came under attack before they managed to make any contact with the local organizations. They avoided and took shelter somewhere. However, they were later attacked for a second time,” said Khun Oakkar.

He added casualties may have and he ordered not to make public about the casualties report.

Military tension between RCSS and PNLO were high at Kadu area in southern Shan State in June last year due to land dispute, forcing many local Pa-O ethnics to run away from the area.

However the dispute was settled after the meeting between RCSS’s chairman General Ywat Sitt and PNLO’s Chairman Khun Myint Tun held in July last year.