File photo: Kachin Independence Army, KIA, soldier at a frontline post in Kachin State, northern Burma.

Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/A) captured a strategic mountaintop camp from Burma Army, in addition to several other camps located between Laiza and Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State.

According to Col Naw Bu, in charge of KIO/A information department, the EAO captured Alaw Bum on Thursday, March 25, at about 4 am, after seizing camps at the base of the mountain on Wednesday during the day.

“Our troops attacked Alaw Bum camp because Burma army attacked KIA camps in the region of Samar and launched an artillery attack on a KIA Battalion 3 camp.” Burma Army also attacked KIO/A in Kawng Shaung area with some shells landing in China.

Burma Army took Alaw Bum, located in Momauk Township, from KIO/A in the early ’90s.

Col Naw Bu dispelled Burma Army’s accusations that KIO/A will take action against protesters in Kachin State. He told KNG the military distributed pamphlets stating the EAO will attack people for demonstrating.

KIO/A destroyed a Burma Army camp on March 11 after the regime gunned down two protesters in Myitkyina. Following the attack, fighting broke out in Kachin and northern Shan State.

According to a woman living in Wai Jai internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Laiza, the camp leader told residents to dig a makeshift bunker. She said that he told them to remain cautious, prepare dry rations and eat and sleep earlier. In recent years, the Burma Army launched airstrikes on Laiza, located along the border with China.