KIA attack kills three army officers on Mandalay-Muse Highway

HUTS, ALSO IDP SHELTERS IN THE RICE-PATTY FIELDS NEAR MONGKOE TOWN WERE BURNT BY BURMA GOVERNMENT TROOPS ON NOV, 24

HUTS, ALSO IDP SHELTERS IN THE RICE-PATTY FIELDS NEAR MONGKOE TOWN WERE BURNT BY BURMA GOVERNMENT TROOPS ON NOV, 24

Three Burmese military officers were killed yesterday when their army convoy was attacked by the Kachin Independence Army near Kutkai on the Mandalay-Muse highway, witnesses report.

The attack which took place on a normally busy trading route with China severely damaged two out of five of the army trucks in the convoy.

Reached for comment a representative of the KIA’s 4th Brigade located in Shan state claimed that three Burmese officers including a major and a captain rank were killed in the attack.

The convoy is believed to have been traveling from Lashio to bring reinforcements to Mongkoe where the Burmese army also came under attack early yesterday morning.

Yesterday’s attack in Mongkoe on a compound housing the Burmese Army’s Strategic Office (Byu-ha-kone in Burmese) reportedly killed at least 18 Burmese soldiers. The raid on Mongkoe, formerly the headquarters of the now defunct Burmese Communist Party, also killed Major Maung Maung Myo, commander of Chinshwehawy (Nyankun)-based Infantry Battalion No. 129.

Residents of Mongkoe report that the town has now been encircled by troops from the KIA.

Since early June of this year, Kachin and parts of northern Shan state have witnessed daily clashes between the KIA and the Burmese army. The conflict began when the Burmese government led by ex-General turned President Thein Sein chose to end a 17 year ceasefire between the two sides.

This story compiled by our correspondent in Shan state.