Military sends more troops and supplies to northern Kachin state

A Chinese built Shaanxi Y-8 transport plane of Burma military.

Aircraft belonging to Burma's military were recently observed unloading troops and supplies at the Putao airport in northern Kachin state, according to local residents. The arrival of reinforcements in Putao comes just weeks before government negotiators and representatives of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) are supposed to meet early next month for peace talks.

New Kachin political party files with election commission

KDP leader Gumgrawng Awng Hkam

The newly created Kachin Democratic Party (KDP), filed registration papers with national election authorities earlier this month, according to party leader Gumgrawng Awng Hkam. Awng Hkam, who normally resides in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina, travelled to Naypyidaw to submit his party's papers in person on September 4th.  The party was formed by like-minded people from Kachin civil society who are interested in pursuing politics, Awng Hkam told the Kachin News Group during a phone interview.

Tay Za funds Kachin mountain expedition as IDP suffer nearby

A group of American and Burmese climbers reached the summit of Kachin state's Gamlang Razi on Sept. 7 with the financial backing of crony Tay Za (photo facebook).

A mountaineering expedition in northern Kachin state, financed by Burmese billionaire Tay Za's Htoo foundation, successfully reached the summit of Burma's second highest mountain earlier this month. The team which included five Americans and a Burmese became the first ever climbers to reach Gamlang Razi summit on September 7, according to press reports.

Burmese soldiers confiscated church alms during Nhka Ga interrogation

The KBC office in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state.

Burmese government soldiers purportedly robbed the entire alms collection of Kachin Baptist Church in Nhka Ga village, where fighting between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been ongoing since Aug. 28, according to aid workers stationed in the village.

Burma army official admits interrogation of Rev. Ram Mai

Maj-Gen Tun Tun Naung, commander of Burma Army Northern Regional Military Command, conceded yesterday that government soldiers interrogated Rev. Ram Mai in early September, according to Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC). Rev. Ram Mai, a pastor in Kachin's Putao district, was allegedly detained along with several other villagers and tortured during questioning.

KIO meets with Burmese gov negotiators amid rise in fighting

Gawlu La Awng who heads the KIO Technical Advisory Team office in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state.

As fighting between Burmese government forces and troops loyal to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) intensifies across Kachin and parts of northern Shan state, representatives from both sides met this week in Myitkyina, the Kachin state capital.

Second round of UN aid reaches IDPs in Laiza

UN aid convoy arrived Laiza on Sept. 16.

Much needed basic food rations from United Nations aid groups has reached internally displaced people in Laiza, the capital and headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) near the China border in Burma’s northern Kachin state.

Burma army sends more troops to Pangwa

Over the past few weeks hundreds of Burma army reinforcements have been deployed to the Pangwa area in northeastern Kachin state, in order to shore up pro-government border guard force (BGF) units, according to a former member of the militia.

Burma army shells KIA position on Myitkyina-Bhamo highway

A Burmese soldier of Light Infantry Division No. 33 on Kambaiti road, eastern Kachin state.

The Burma Army repeatedly shelled a mobile-battalion position of the Kachin Independence Army on the Myitkyina-Bhamo highway in eastern Kachin state on September 14, KIA officials told Kachin News Group.

Burma army troops assault Kachin pastor in Putao

A Kachin Baptist pastor and his family members were physically assaulted by Burma army forces in Kachin state's northern Putao district earlier this month, according to friends of the alleged victims. Army troops are said to have beaten up Ram Mai and his family as fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the government forces broke out near the pastor's village at Nhka Ga.

Burmese billionaire Tay Za wants 600,000 acres in Putao for gold project

Tay Za

A firm owned by Burmese billionaire tycoon Tay Za has requested government officials, grant 600,000 acres (240,000 hectare) of land in northern Kachin's state Putao (also Putau) region for a gold mining project, the Kachin News Group has learned. Tay Za, who owns Htoo Trading and many related firms, has extensive business interests across Burma and is well known for having close ties to General Than Shwe.

Villagers flee as fighting continues in southern Kachin state

Dozens of Kachin villagers living in southern Mansi (Manje) township fled their homes yesterday as fighting between Burma's military and troops loyal to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) continued for the second straight day, according to church related aid groups monitoring the situation.

Burma govt and KIO battle in southern Kachin state

Fighting between the Burmese government and Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) broke out Tuesday morning in Nam Lim Pa area near the Kachin/Shan state border, said local church and KIO officials.

Burmese authorities block evacuating Kachin war refugees

Burmese president Thein Sein

About 100 Kachin war refugees in the isolated Putao district of Burma’s northern Kachin state have been blocked by local government authorities, according to sources from a local church.

Burma Army troops plunder abandoned Kachin farms

Two Burmese soldiers on Kambaiti road in eastern Kachin state.

Government forces stationed at bases along the Myitkyina to Kambaiti road in Kachin state have been harvesting fruit and other crops from farms owned by displaced Kachin families, angry farmers tell the Kachin News Group.

Burma army and KIO clash in northern Shan state's Muse Township

KIA troops in Pangsai (Kyukok) area in Muse township, northern Shan state.

Troops from Burma's armed forces exchanged gun fire with forces loyal to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) in northern Shan state this past Tuesday, according to local residents.

More than 100 Kachin villagers trapped near Putao after heavy fighting

More than 100 Kachin villagers have taken shelter in a forested area in Kachin's Putao district, after fighting broke out nearby between Burmese military forces and troops from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) last week. According to an official from the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), one of the main groups assisting internally displaced people in Kachin state, the displaced who are overwhelmingly women, children and the elderly are enduring great hardship in the remote mountainous corner of northern Kachin state.

Ex-KIO vice chairman registers Kachin party to election commission

Ex-KIO Vice-chairman Dr. Tu Ja.

Dr. Tu Ja, the retired Vice-chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) registered the Kachin State Democracy Party (KSDP) with the union election commission in Naypyidaw last week.

Two Burmese army officers killed in rare fighting with KIA in Putao

Two Burmese army lieutenants were killed and several injured in a rare bout of fighting with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) last week in Putao, Kachin, Burma's northernmost state, according to local sources.