Two days of regime air and ground offensives in Shwegu Township displace people from 30 villages

By Network Media Group
April 9, 2023

Burma army launched

People from more than 30 villages were displaced in Shwegu Township in Kachin State following two consecutive days of Burma army airstrikes and ground offensives, according to local sources.

On 5 and 6 April, the Burma army launched airstrikes and a simultaneous ground offensive against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Shwegu Township. Locals reported that the regime’s ground forces intentionally targeted civilian villages with airstrikes and artillery fire.

“Two Yak-130 jet fighters and a Mi-17 helicopter attacked Mang Wein Gyi, Si Mugyi and Si Tha villages. Many houses were burned by these airstrikes. We saw a huge anmount of smoke rising from these villages,” a local man, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told NMG.

NMG is not able to independently verify the damage because military tensions remain intense in the area and it is difficult for local people confirm how many houses were damaged by the airstrikes and artillery fire.

“On 6 April around 5 p.m., a jet fighter dropped two bombs on Si Thaung village. We saw smoke rising from the village,” the local man said.

Other local reports were that most civilian houses in Mang Wein, Mang Ner and Si Tha villages and a hospital in Si Tha village were burned down by airstrikes and artillery attacks.

“Almost all houses are gone. Jet fighters attacked the Mang Wein, Mang Ner, and Si Tha villages two times. Clashes occurred in this area for the whole day on 5 April,” a Shwegu resident told NMG.

A PDF officer said that the Burma army suffered many causalities during the 5 April clashes, and this is why they launched airstrikes against the KIA and PDF in Shwegu Township for two consecutive days on 5 and 6 April.

On April 5 around 3 p.m., the Burma army’s two Russian-made Yak-130 jet fighters conducted at least eight bombing raids on civilian villages in Shwegu Township. Another airstrike was launched in the area two hours later, around 5:30 p.m. On 6 April, the Burma army continued launching airstrikes on civilian villages in the Township, according to local reports.

Over 5 and 6 April, combined KIA and PDF forces had multiple intense clashes with regime troops from IB-77, IB-10, and LIB-236. There were approximately 60 soldiers from IB-77 and IB-10, and approximately 80 BA soldiers from LIB-236, which is based in Bhamo town.