Fighting continues between KIA and Burma army in Kachin and northern Shan States
By Network Media Group
April 22, 2023
Clashes continue between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burma army (BA) in Kachin State and northern Shan State. Four BA soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in the recent fighting in Hpakant Township, according to sources close to the KIA. Civilians held by the BA as human shields were caught-up in the fighting, one civilian was killed and six were wounded.
Local people said that KIA troops had multiple clashes with BA troops in Nam Yar village-tract in Hpakant Township between 18 April and 20 April.
Col Naw Bu, spokesperson of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), said that KIA soldiers attacked the BA’s military convoy with landmines in Nam Yar village-tract on 18 April.
“Our troops attacked the junta’s military trucks with landmines at the junction of Gut Nwe village in Nam Yar,” Col Naw Bu told NMG.
The Kachin Net media outlet, considered a mouthpiece of the KIO/KIA, reported that at least four BA soldiers were killed and nearly 20 BA soldiers were wounded during the landmine attack in Gut Nwe village.
Col Naw Bu said that some civilians on the military trucks were also killed during the landmine attack because the BA was using them as human shields.
“They arrested people and used them as human shields in the Nam Yar area. They do not mind if civilians are killed during fighting. They are so cruel to use civilians as human shields. A clash broke out in the Nam Yar area around 8 or 9 a.m. yesterday. There were some civilian causalities during the clash. An injured female died in hospital in this morning. They do not care about the safety of people,” Col Naw Bu told NMG.
Local people said that a female was killed and six other civilians were wounded during the clash between BA and KIA troops. Locals reported that BA soldiers arrested these people to use them as human shields when they were traveling in Hpakant Township.
The KIO spokesperson said that on 17 April KIA troops seized a military camp in Sel Zin village where the BA and Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) were staying.
“KIA battalion-26 seized a military camp in Sel Zin village three days ago. The village is located in KIA battalion-26 territory, under KIA brigade-9,” Col Naw Bu told NMG.
Besides the clashes in Kachin State, KIA troops attacked a strategic BA camp in Kutkai Township in northern Shan state.
“The purpose of this attack was to intimidate the BA. It was not a major offensive operation. Our troops attacked the BA camp in Kutkai Township four days ago. The camp is located in KIA battalion-8 territory,” Col Naw Bu told NMG.
The KIO spokesperson said that their troops have continued to clash with BA troops in Hpakant Township in Kachin State and Kutkai Township in northern Shan State but there are no clash in other townships in Kachin State.
Col Naw Bu said that military tensions remain high between BA and KIA troops in Hpakant Township, and clashes could occur between the KIA and BA at any time.
