In a swift one-day operation, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) successfully seized control of five Junta bases, notably securing the strategic tactical command overseeing the entirety of Sadung (Sadon) in Kachin State. The takeover has effectively rendered both Waingmaw and Sadung as junta-free zones.
On the morning of June 11, allied forces led by KIA conducted simultaneous raids on Junta’s military installations along the Waingmaw-Sadung-Kan Paik Ti Road. These targets included the Gawsetyang (13-Mile Gate) base, Lahpai militia encampment, Bwamtaung militia encampment, Dinggar base, and the crucial Sadung tactical command.
By late morning, Gawsetyang, Lahpai, and Bwamtaung were under the control of KIA, with Sadung tactical command's compound being breached by the KIA-led coalition forces around 5:00 PM, a KIA frontline source said.
"At around 5:00 PM, we seized control of the Sadung tactical command. Currently, there are no Junta bases along the road from Waingmaw to Sadung. However, Junta troops are still present in Kan Paik Ti town”, he reported.
The Sadung tactical command sits atop a hill on the eastern outskirts of the town, serving as a critical stronghold bolstered by three auxiliary guard outposts. Despite its fortified defenses, KIA managed to capture it eventually.
The capture of Gawsetyang, Lahpai, and Bwamtaung bases by KIA holds great significance due to their strategic locations along the Waingmaw-Sadung-Kan Paik Ti Road, which is crucial for logistical purposes.
Previously, these bases were jointly operated by Junta troops and allied militia members and collected tolls from passing passenger vehicles and trucks along the road. The also collaborated to facilitate the illegal entry of Chinese nationals into the country.
KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu stated that his organization had effectively captured the Junta bases, causing significant disruption to the local population.
"All the bases we have captured are crucial. For instance, Gawsetyang base controls the route to Chipwi and Kan Paik Ti. Bwamtaung is strategic too. These bases have been troubling the locals for a long time in different ways. And they are all strategically important”, he stated.
KIA's control of the road linking Sadung and Kan Paik Ti signifies its ability to oversee another critical route vital for the region's border trade sector.
Since March, KIA has been steadily seizing Junta bases in and around Waingmaw town, one after another. In May, it also successfully gained control over 13 Junta outposts scattered around Dabak creek in Waingmaw township.
