A local resident said the KIA attacked the Tatmadaw outpost.

“The fight broke out between 2 or 3 am until 5:30 am in the morning. There’s an outpost in Lamong Village. The KIA came and attacked this outpost. That’s why the clash broke out,” he said.

The office of the Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief has not released anything about this clash.

The Tatmadaw suffered many casualties after the KIA attacked its outpost in Tadar Nyi Naung Village near Kamaing town under Hpakant Township on April 6.

The KIA has warned mine workers and owners on April 5 to leave the mines immediately as it will be engaging in guerilla warfare and planting landmines in the gold and amber mines in Tanai Township.

“Fighting has been continuing in this area. Fighting has been frequently breaking out in Hukawng Valley area after heavy fighting broke out in June 2017. This may be due to the announcement. Even if the announcement was not released, the situation of the fighting will depend on the attitude of the two armed groups,” said U Naung Taung from Tanai.

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)’s information officer Col. Naw Bu told NMG on April 5 that the KIA and the Tatmadaw have been fighting continuously and it may escalate since the Tatmadaw has been reinforcing its troops and it is not going to withdraw them.