Eleven Media
Published on Sunday, 20 April 2014 22:02
The new round of government-KIA fighting erupted since April 10.
Published on Sunday, 20 April 2014 22:02
A fighting between the
government troops and Kachin Independence Army took place on April 4 at a
road linking Manwainggyi and Kaunghmuyan, Kachin State, according to a
government news source.
As the Army forces were adjusting their
deployment, the KIA soldiers started to attack them, killing an Army
major. The government said the incident happened at the area designated
for mopping-up operation to gain control.
The army could take control of Pankham
area after high casualties - an officer and three privates were killed
while and another officer and four privates sustained injuries. Six KIA
soldiers died and five weapons were seized, the report said.
While seven vehicles of Tatmadaw
military convoy were travelling on April 13 to Seinlon from Bhamo for
operational rotations, the convoy hit the KIA-planted landmine near mile
post No 12/4 in Moemauk township. Two privates were killed and nine
others were wounded, the report said.
In retaliation, the Tatmadaw military
forces mopped up the KIA troops of station 792 (Monghsatkaung) and
station 406 (Dagawmakarbon). In clearing these military stations, three
troops were killed and three were injured. Eight KIA soldiers died and
five weapons were seized.
The clashes in Pankham happened 4
kilometers from the borderline, resulting in no diplomatic repercussion.
There was no casualty for local people because the troops did not enter
the villages or the internally displaced person’s camps, the report
said.
The new round of government-KIA fighting erupted since April 10.
The Army managed to gain control of Bankham border gate and the KIA’s No 27 Regiment on April 12.
The Ministry of Defence said that the
Tatmadaw military forces had to conduct the mop-up operations on the KIA
camps after the armed minority forces attacked the government troops.
The KIA said, on the other hand, the
Tatmadaw forces started to expand its presence and flex its military
might, prompting a preemptive attack.
“The government said that it was
replacing the troops. But it did not mean like so. The government was
carrying out troops redeployment,” La Nan, the KIO information officer,
said to The Daily Eleven on April 18.
Regarding the report of the Ministry of Defence, The Daily Eleven tried but failed to contact the KIA for comments on April 19.
The recent clashes displaced more than
10,000 people from Kachin and Shan villages, according to local civic
organisations. The internally displaced persons are now taking shelter
in Manwainggyi, Muse and Nankham camps.
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