Army's Kachin offensive continues despite President's claims, says KNO

Burmese soldiers guard Kachin State's capital Myitkyina.

In a statement released on Friday the Kachin National Organization (KNO), the largest exiled Kachin political organization, strongly condemned President Thein Sein's recent claim that there is no longer any fighting in northern Burma.  Throughout his European trip which also ended on Friday, Thein Sein repeated the government line that peace has come to Kachin state, despite mounting evidence to the
contrary.

"There's no more hostilities, no more fighting all over the country, we have been able to end this kind of armed conflict," the ex-general turned civilian politician claimed during a joint press conference with Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Monday.

Thein Sein's claim prompted the KNO to hit back. “The Burmese government is committing war crimes and preparing another big scale conflict while claiming 'peace' in Kachinland,” said the KNO statement.

According to the KNO, Thein Sein's ten trip to Europe took place while the army repeatedly attacking KIO positions, a claim supported by Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) officials on the frontline in Kachin state.  The KNO noted that throughout Kachin state over the last 10 days the army was seen resupplying front-line posts in a preparation for what appears to be another major offensive against the
KIO and it is similarly named armed wing.

On Tuesday March 5th troops from the army's 101 battalion attacked Kachin Independence Army (KIA) units near Gat Shang Yang, located south of the Kachin state capital Myitkyina along the road to Moguang.  The attack on the KIA's Battalion 11 which occurred at 8 a.m. was led by army troops under the command of Colonel Win Ko Ko from the Magway Division tactical command, according to information provided by the KNO.

The fighting on Tuesday was preceded by army units sending large amounts of supplies and troop reinforcements to the area, according to eyewitnesses.  Tuesday also saw government forces send reinforcements to Mung Ywa base, controlled by the army's 33rd Light Infantry Division (LID).  The base located east of Myitkyina is close to KIA positions.

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