“Fighting is raging nearly every day in the KIA’s 14th battalion area in Tanai Township. The Tatmadaw launched an air strike against the 14th battalion area today (January 31). Ground fighting has also resumed,” said Colonel Naw Bu, information officer of the KIO.

The KIA and the Tatmadaw have been fighting in Tanai, Mansi, and Sumprabum townships.

Tanai residents said fighting has been raging in Tain Kauk Village and Shaduzup Village along the Ledo Road in Tanai area.

“Clashes are breaking out consecutively. Two airplanes dropped bombs twice at around 2 PM. We heard the sounds of small and heavy weapons from Tanai. A clash broke out in Tain Kauk Dee Jan Bum Mountain today. The clashes in Nan Kwan, Shaduzup, and Tain Kauk involve the Shan People’s Militia and Zahkung Ting Ying’s army and the Lisu People’s Militia on the side of the [KIA] 14th battalion. People who fled the fighting told this to me,” a resident of Tanai said on condition of anonymity.

Colonel Naw Bu said clashes are also breaking out in KIA’s Division 3 area in Mansi Township.

“Clashes broke out in the 27th and 12th battalions areas under Division 3 today. They are breaking out occasionally every three days. A jet fighter dropped bombs at 3 PM today,” he said. 

Although no clashes have broken out in Sunprabon Township in northern Kachin State, the Tatmadaw fired heavy weapons against the KIA, according to the KIO.

Colonel Naw Bu said these clashes have driven peace further away.

“[The Tatmadaw] has been giving military pressures and engaging in clashes so I believe the situation is not good [to obtain] peace. Whether it is a union or federal, we want to discuss about living in harmony, but the Tatmadaw kept giving us military pressures so there is no trust between each other. Political dialogue won’t be successful without trust,” he added.

Fighting resumed between the KIA and the Tatmadaw since 2011 and clashes continue despite peace efforts exist.