Firewood thief Burmese soldier shot dead by KIA

One Burmese soldier was killed on Tuesday morning by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), during an attack at Sama, in Waingmaw Township, in Kachin State, witnesses said.

The soldier was killed when government troops were stealing firewood from Sama residents, said villagers.

Villagers said the new government troops from lower Burma are currently based at the Mountain post in the village, however, their battalion has not been identified yet.

Sama village is located on the road east of the Myitkyina-Manmaw Highway, near Ga Ra Yang village, which connects the KIA’s Infantry Division Command, based in Hpalap Bum.

Face-to-face ceasefire negotiations between the KIA and the government stopped for nearly three weeks over major differences on political issues in the post-ceasefire period.

The government offers peace talks with the KIA and all ethnic armed groups based on the military-engineered 2008 constitution, which was rejected by the KIA.

The KIA demands a country-wide ceasefire followed by a political dialogue based on the 1947 Panglong Agreement.

There is no option except renewed civil war if the differences cannot be settled, Kachin military analyst said.