Army shells KIO positions near Lajayang amid talks

The Fed.4 Ruili talk between Burmese gorvernment and Kachin Independence Organization.

Beginning at 1 PM Monday, as representatives of Burma's government met with senior members of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) in the Chinese border city of Ruili, government forces stationed at Lajayang shelled nearby KIO positions, according to witnesses in the area.

During the KIO's 17 year ceasefire with Burma's government the KIO operated a major checkpoint at Laja Yang located less than 6KM from Laiza. Beginning in December Burma's army heavily bombed KIO positions at Laja Yang until the outposts fell.

The fact that the army has continued to shell KIO positions even as peace talks were taking place did little to alleviate Kachin concerns that the government is unwilling to reign in the the army. The talks ended with both sides agreeing to meet again but no major breakthroughs came out of the meeting.

Following the meeting's conclusion Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying was reported in Chinese state-controlled media saying his government was pleased that the two sides were able to sit down together for talks.  The talks were formally observed by Chinese government officials, the first such time that they have done so since the fighting began in Kachin state in June 2011.

"China would like congratulate the two parties on the achievements that have been made on significant issues including cease-fire and peace talks, and hopes they will fulfill their commitments and maintain contact," Hua told a press briefing in Beijing.

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