Kantarawaddy Times／BNI Online | October 22, 2018

A skirmish broke out between the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Tatmadaw in Nan Kit Village of Hpaswang Township in the Kayah State on Saturday morning (October 20).

“We have our men there. They have to do their work. There is a gate they’ve to take care. According to our men, they (the Tatmadaw) went around our gate without asking for permission.  As I’ve already said, they have to do their duty if they (the Tatmadaw) failed to report. They have to do their work,” U Nye Reh, who runs the KNPP’s liaison office in Loikaw, said to the Kantarawaddy Times.

On condition of anonymity, a local resident told the Kantarawaddy Times that the Tatmadaw entered the KNPP-controlled area in Hpasawng Township on October 19 without informing the KNPP.

“A force of 20 military troops entered the KNPP-controlled area

[on October 19] after walking around Nan Kit gate. They were active [on October 20] after reinforcing their troops. They said they were going to Man Ta Lel in Hpasawng town. I don’t know the number of force in detail. The military shouldn’t do such kind of action that harms peace while they keep talking about peace,” he said.

U Nye Reh said both sides have agreed in the union-level ceasefire agreement to notify each other before travelling for business or informal purposes but the Tatmadaw often travels without informing the KNPP.

Mutual trust is the predominant factor while the KNPP is striving to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) and it will be difficult to trust the Tatmadaw if it often behaves like this, he continued.

“Based on the current situation, we know who is trying to shatter trust and how it started. They shouldn’t do this and there should be mutual respect during the trust-building period,” he added.

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This article originally appeared on BNI Online on October 22, 2018.

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