There has been over 40 clashes between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Myanmar army since governmental representatives and Kachin resistance leaders met to discuss peace options in the Chinese city Shwe Li, on Oct.30. Many of the battles took place in the KIA’s Brigade 4 area in Northern Shan State and near their Laiza headquarters.
Myanmar army Division 33 has increased their troops to 1000 soldiers since Nov.7. They have been staging their soldiers on the Myitkyina to Putao highway.
Government soldiers were ordered to attempt to destroy KIA Brigade 4. In Brigade 3 and 5 they fired rounds from tanks at Kachin soldiers stationed near Laiza.
Although things seemed to be getting quieter in the jade rich Hpakant district - the area saw a lot of fighting in the last several months - the Myanmar army has recently returned with reinforcements.
“The government troops withdrew 5 days ago so we thought the fighting was over but they returned again with more than 10 vehicles. It looks like it will be a really bad situation,” said one man who lives in the area.
Three-hundred government soldiers have arrived in Nagar Nyinaung Lonkin village near Hpakant district. Locals said they were interrogated and beaten if they didn’t answer the soldier’s questions.
