KIA limits military resistance to Burmese government

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has limited its military resistance to the central Burmese government since July 1, a day after delegates from the two sides met for peace talks in Kachin State, on June 30, KIA officials said.

The order was given on Friday to all KIA troops at the frontlines in Kachin State and Northern Shan State to temporarily stop attacking military targets on the main roads and governmental infrastructure in major towns, according to the KIA officers.

La Nan, Vice General Secretary-2 of KIO.

The order permits Kachin troops to take military action only when Burmese troops intrude on KIA territory, KIA officers added.

A KIA officer at the frontline from 3rd Brigade in Manmaw (Bhamo) District said, “The order means we cannot fight against Burmese troops if they won’t march to our posts.”

Delegates of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political-wing of KIA, and the military-backed Burmese government met twice to negotiate a new ceasefire on June 17 and 30th. However, no agreement has been reached, according to Kumhtat La Nan, Vice-general Secretary-2 at the KIO headquarters in Laiza.

La Nan told the Kachin News Group after the second talks at Lajayang, “We cannot announce a ceasefire to our KIA troops at the frontlines because the government’s ceasefire offer has not proved to be credible. We are asking for an official ceasefire statement from the government side. We cannot trust a verbal offer without an official document.”

Under the KIO’s defense policy, the KIA took military action in response to aggressive government troop movements, as well as against bridges and railway infrastructure, when the war was started by government forces at Sang Gang, in N’mawk (Momauk) Township, in Manmaw District, on June 9.