Burma Army suffers high casualties along Loije route

 Burma's armed forces suffered high casualties in Kachin State on Monday as troops repeatedly came under attack while traveling on the Bhamo (Manmaw) to Loije road, according to officials with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

The Kachin resistance reportedly inflicted heavy losses on a combined army column of about 100 troops by planting a series of explosive devices along the road at Lawmun and Sinlum villages, said a KIA officer from the group's 3rd Brigade.

KIA officials and local residents told the Kachin News Group that as many as 40 government soldiers were killed by the blasts.

All civilian travel along the Bhamo to Loije road has been blocked since April by the KIA. The road to Loije is usually very busy due to the town's importance as a major trading center with China.

On Sunday KIA ambush attacks killed over 30 Burma army soldiers including a military operation commander from Light Infantry Division No. 99 at various points along the Bhamo to Nam Hkam road, according to KIA soldiers who took part in the attack.

The deceased troops were part of a large column of government forces who were heading to Nam Hkam in Shan state from a base at Kai Htik in Kachin state. Most of the casualties were inflicted during two separate coordinated attacks carried out by rebels from KIA battalions 1 and 27.

Eyewitnesses told the Kachin News Group that following the ambush the army column retreated to Kai Htik.

Fighting between the Burma army and the KIA has continued since the two sides met for peace talks at the Chinese border city of Ruili (Shweli) in early March. Those talks ended without a ceasefire however both sides agreed to meet again at an unspecified date.

Last week Reuters reported that the leader of the government's negotiating team will soon be replaced. Aung Thaung, a former industry minister in Than Shwe's junta, is the chair of the parliamentary peace committee which has met several times over the past 6 months with representatives from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

According to Reuters Aung Thaung's parliamentary negotiating team will be merged with a team led by Railway Minister Aung Min, which was appointed by President Thein Sein. Aung Min and Vice President Sai Mauk Kham are expected to lead the next round of negotiations replacing Aung Thaung, who is seen as hardliner and close to General Than Shwe.