The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) has warned that the new junta commander-in-chief’s drive to assert his authority could fuel further military tensions in Kachin State.
KIO spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu said the public should be prepared for a possible escalation of military tensions in Kachin State following changes in the Myanmar military’s top leadership, including the commander-in-chief.
After assuming the presidency through a sham election, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing handed over his role as military chief to General Ye Win Oo.
“There have been changes at the top of the regime. The coup leader has stepped away from his military role and formed a new government. The new commander-in-chief who replaced him may seek to prove himself, so it’s important for the public to remain vigilant and closely monitor the military situation,” Colonel Naw Bu said.
Fighting between the junta and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)—the armed wing of the KIO—continues almost daily in Bhamo Township, Kachin State, particularly around the base of the junta’s Infantry Battalion 40, with reports of artillery shelling, drone strikes and airstrikes. Similarly, frequent skirmishes broke out around Mongnar Village and Sanpya Hill in Waingmaw Township, prompting the KIO to urge locals to remain alert to the military situation.
“There are two heavily fortified junta bases along Nanbyu Creek, where the amber mining sites are located. These bases are called Whae Lot and Har Long Kong. We’ve captured two defensive outposts protecting these bases but are still trying to seize the main positions, which are more heavily fortified, and fighting is ongoing,” Colonel Naw Bu told NMG.
In Hpakant Township, a renowned jade mining hub, fighting has largely subsided, but the junta has occasionally conducted indiscriminate artillery shelling, causing civilian casualties. In the third week of April, the junta also stepped up arbitrary arrests and abductions in Lone Khin Village Tract in Hpakant Township, raising concerns that fighting could resume at any time.
In Khaunglanhpu Township, the number of troops from junta-aligned militia units deserting to avoid fighting is reportedly increasing daily. According to locals, the deserters fear they would be arrested by junta authorities if they return home, leaving them caught in a dilemma.
Colonel Naw Bu said that currently, the KIA has closed some roads in Kachin State indefinitely for public safety, urging residents to check the latest military updates before traveling.
