YANGON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Armed clashes broke out in Laukkai, the capital of Kokang region in Myanmar's northern Shan state, Monday before dawn, with Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) launching offensive on Laukkai, resulting in dozens of casualties including civilians.
At least five Kokang traffic police and five civilians were killed when the MNDAA attacked police posts and a residential area in Laukkai, according to a government release. Four other Kokang traffic police were also taken away by the MNDAA as hostages.
MNDAA attacked Laukkai with small and heavy weapons, destroying some residential buildings, hotels and military camps with vehicles burned.
In one offensive, about 30-strong MNDAA, disguising as police members, attacked the Yanlonekyine police camp from the south, but was counter-attacked by the government forces.
Later, about 50-strong MNDAA shot at the residence of U Wai San, a member of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone Administration, and a hotel in Laukkai. Four vehicles of the Kyintin Hotel were destroyed and the cash counter at the Fulilight Hotel was raided until the government troops intervened. The MNDAA later retreated to the east of the border.
Other armed groups were also reportedly involved with MNDAA in the attack.
The government security forces found 20 charred corpses and 10 pieces of weapons after the attack.
The government troops are making an area clearance operation following the incident.
The clashes prompted the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC), headed by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, to issue an announcement later in the day in response to the attack, calling on the MNDAA to abandon armed attacks and sit down for peace talks.
Military conflicts have broken out in a border area of northern Myanmar's Shan state early Sunday morning with an alliance of three ethnic armed groups launching simultaneous and surprise attacks on government's military outposts and police stations in Muse and Kutkai townships as well as a border trade center there, in which a total of eight people lost their lives.
The three armed groups, namely the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), are among the non-signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA).
Recently, Aung San Suu Kyi met with a delegation for political negotiation (DPN) of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), which represents the non-signatory armed groups to the Nationwide Cease-fire Accord (NCA), in Nay Pyi Taw and agreed to the nine-point proposal presented by the UNFC.
Besides, the government's Peace Commission also met the DPN of the UNFC with the two sides agreeing to work for the inclusion of organizations which should be included in the peace process and attendance at the upcoming Panglong Peace Conference.
Myanmar's second meeting of its 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference is set for late March, a dialogue open to all ethnic armed groups.
The greatest national endeavor of the new government is to continue to resolve one of the world's longest-running civil war. Toward this end, the government has made the peace process a priority, initiating the all-inclusive dialogue of stakeholders.
Myanmar's previous government and eight armed groups initiated the NCA on Oct. 15, 2015 and the first meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Conference was held in Nay Pyi Taw in Aug-Sept 2016, five months after the NLD-led new government took office.
Meanwhile, Myanmar began in January holding national region-oriented and race-oriented political dialogue in regions and states.
The outcome of all regional dialogues will be submitted to the upcoming second meeting of the Panglong Peace Conference which is expected to gather about 700 representatives.
