10 Burma soldiers die in battle with KIA in Shan State

A KIA SNIPER TAKES POSITION NEAR KIO LAIZA HEADQUARTERS IN KACHIN STATE, NORTHERN BURMA.

MUSE, Burma — A short battle between the Burmese army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in northern Shan state ended Thursday morning with the death of at least 10 Burmese soldiers, including an officer, according to KIA official in the area. 

The brief but lethal firefight broke out when members of the Kachin resistance attacked a military convoy on the Kutkai-Tamonye road between Maw Han and Nong Cho, said the KIA official.

Thursday also saw at least three additional clashes between Burmese troops and members of the KIA 4th Brigade's 9th Battalion take place in the area.  According to KIA officials these incidents resulted in a number of Burmese soldiers sustaining serious injury.

It is not known what battalion the Burmese troops belonged to, however they were accompanied by troops from the Kutkai Militia, led by U Hkun Myat, according to a KIA official who also said that none of his soldiers were injured during the day's fighting.

A large part of northern Shan state is presently under the control of the KIA’s 4th Brigade, including the northern section of the Mandalay-Muse road, one of the country's most important trading routes. 

The Shwe gas project's twin oil and gas pipelines are also slated to be built in a lengthy stretch of land now controlled by the 4th Brigade including Namtu, Kutkai, Mandong and Nam Hkam townships.  All of these areas have seen heavy fighting in recent weeks.

High numbers of injuries in Burma Army in Northern Shan State
Sources in the central Shan state town of Lashio report that the local military hospital is currently treating more than 200 injured Burmese soldiers.

The Lashio military hospital usually provides only minor care, soldiers with more severe injuries are sent to a better equipped facility in Pyin Oo Lwin.  The Kachin News Group has also learned that least 400 injured soldiers have been transferred from Lashio to the military hospital in Pyin Oo Lwin, (also known as May Myo).