Fierce fighting occurs in Myanmar Kokang region on first day of water festival

Fierce fighting has occurred in Myanmar's Kokang region in northeastern Shan state on the first day of the country's water festival, the state-run Mirror reported Tuesday.

The government forces recaptured camps at Point 1845 hilltop and another strategic mountain overlooking Tarkahtan village after launching synchronized artillery and armored corps operation on Monday.

During the fighting, the government troops seized some weapons including machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and land mines, the report said.

Five government soldiers were killed with 18 others being wounded in the fighting, the military said, claiming that it has completely controlled over the communication routes east of Parsinkyaw village to where the Kokang army is retreating.

Heavy fighting has been going on intermittently since its outbreak on Feb. 9. between the government forces and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), which was once the first ethnic armed group which made peace with the then military government.

Despite regaining stability in Laukkai, the capital of Kokang region, with some shops being opened by regional people for business, heavy engagements between the two sides reportedly continued in Kokang region in March almost on a daily basis amid peace talks in Yangon.

Unconfirmed compiled statistics show that as of now, the government side suffered 127 deaths with 367 being wounded, while 104 bodies were seized from the MNDAA with 30 being arrested.

Meanwhile, peace negotiators of the Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups concluded negotiation of a draft nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) on March 30 and the draft accord was preliminarily signed in Yangon on March 31, leaving the formal signing to be completed after the draft NCA is approved by the top level of respective sides.