SSA denies throwing bomb

_{By Lieng Lern}

"It is not our policy to kill innocent people. The SPDC is accusing us to get more support from people for the upcoming referendum. They are twisting facts to mislead the people, to make them misunderstand us as terrorists," said the spokesperson of Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) Maj Lao Hseng.

_{Maj Lao Hseng}

On 13 April, at 00:30 a bomb exploded in Wanpang village, Laikha Township, 89 miles east of the Shan State capital Taunggyi, while people were preparing for the traditional Thingyan (Songkran) festival.

The Myanmar Ahli newspaper said five people were injured. U Nyan Aung, U Pai Aung Kham, U Myint Thein, U Own Pe and Nang Tin when a man, whom the paper claimed was a member of the Shan State Army (SSA) rebel group, tossed the bomb into a gathering early Sunday.

However, according to a local source, it was an old homemade bomb that exploded because of the heat. "No one threw a hand grenade," he claimed.

Wanpang is a village under the control of a pro-junta militia group led by Mongzeun, a fugitive from the SSA South.

SSA South is said to be the strongest among the rebel groups that have been opposing the SPDC. The others are the Karen National Union (KNU) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).