KIA loses Shan post following Burma army attack

A Burmese army tank takes position in outskirt of Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state, northern Burma

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) was forced to abandon a front line post in Shan state following a heavy offensive by government forces on January 25th, according to KIA officials.

The Burma army attack, which according to the KIA involved some 200 troops under Military Operation Command (MOC-1), forced the KIA to retreat from a post manned by Battalion 9 of Brigade 4 that was located between Muse and Kutkai, according to KIA Captain Zau La from Brigade 4. The fighting began early in the morning and continued till the evening.

“There was a battle till 8 pm yesterday and we had to retreat from the front line post (at Law Hkum Dingsa)” the KIA official said. According to the KIA official there were no further clashes on the day the interview was conducted.

Over the past week there have been repeated clashes between KIA forces and the army on a near daily basis in parts of northern Shan state controlled by KIA Battalions 2, 36 and 38, according to Captain Zau La. Much of this fighting took place in areas where the fighting first erupted on January 12th.