The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) did not take part in the decision of the Nippon Foundation, the Japanese philanthropic organization, to issue warning to the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ to suspend its humanitarian aid assistance if the group failed to participate in the UNFC activities, said the grouping at a meeting in Chiangmai on 1 May.

Washington, D.C.-- Acting to extend Burma's current national emergency status classification in the United States, President Barack Obama filed a notice indicating that the status, originally declared on May 20, 1997, is to continue, according to a letter released by the Office of the United States Press Secretary Thursday afternoon. The national emergency with respect to Burma was set to end on May 20th without an extension. The emergency status extension for Burma continues a ban on investment and restrictions on financial transactions with Burmese military, according to a statement published by the U.S. Campaign for Burma Thursday via Facebook.

Displaced People Assistance Committee, Tangyan Township, Northern Shan State said that it would build shelters for refugees.

“We will build shelters at Wan Wiang quarter, Ward (5) at the former Mong Kao bus station. We will build them in barracks form but they have to use toilets and kitchens together. We estimated that we would aid 70 households. Some of them will be living with their relatives. For them we supported the construction of huts. The committee has already built 4 huts for the rest and those huts include kitchens and toilets. The cost for one hut is about 400,000 kyat ($450),” an aid worker for refugees, Sai Kher, told SHAN.

Most of the Burma Army Light Infantry Divisions (LIDs) and Military Operations Commands (MOCs), the backbone of Ministry of Defense (Army), are now in frontlines positioning themselves in the ethnic armed group areas, said U Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Sino-Burmese border military and political observer.

As Shan State Army and Burma army are head to head reinforcing their troops along the west Salween between Tangyan and Kehsi townships and as the war is imminent, fearing that the fight would cross and spread to east Salween, United Wa State Army (UWSA) has alerted its troops to be ready, according to the local news sources.

In response to Myanmar Online News’ claims that Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has ordered Burmese in Monghsu Township to move out the town or face arrest, is groundless and faulty, the SSA official abruptly retaliated.

It is reported that a region between Tangyan and Monghsu or trans border between northern Shan State and southern Shan State, the two rival armed movements are readying to wage a fresh war as deploying their troops have intensified, according to the local news sources.

Shan farmers from Namkham, a Sino-Burma border town in northern Shan State, are voicing concern over the gas pipelines linking to China that have appeared to have some holes or loosely connected, according to local news sources.