In December 19, during an airstrike by the Military Council on Lauk Kai
Mizzima
Fighting appeared to have resumed in Laukkai Town in northern Shan State on 18 December after it temporarily ceased following the regime’s announcement of Chinese government-mediated negotiations between the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the junta.
Junta jet fighters dropped bombs in the area of Laukkai Town on the night of 18 December and junta helicopters that may have been bringing in troop reinforcements were seen hovering over the town.
Residents of Laukkai seemed unsure as to what was happening. One said: “I don’t know if the fighting will restart.”
Mizzima reached out to a spokesperson for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) to find out more, but it has, so far, received no response.
Junta spokesperson General Zaw Min Tun revealed on 12 December that the junta had engaged in discussions with the Three Brotherhood Alliance members, the MNDAA, The Arakan Army (AA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), but he did not reveal details of the discussions.
Neither did any Three Brotherhood Alliance members reveal details of the talks. But, on 12 December they issued a statement saying that they remain committed to the political aspirations of the Myanmar population and would not back down. They said that they anticipate a period of sustained fighting before they will be able to achieve their objectives.
