Fighting intensifies in Hpakant jade district as Burma army poses as civilians

AUG 29, BLACK SMOKE WAS RAISED INTO SKY AFTER SERIES OF HEAVY EXPLOSIONS AT BATTLE FIELD IN WAY WAY AUNG COMPANY IN MYAUK PHYU JADE MINE IN HPAKANT, WESTERN KACHIN STATE.

Hpakant, Burma — Armed clashes between Burma military forces and troops from the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) continued yesterday in Kachin state's famed Hpakant jade district, according to members of the Kachin resistance.

6,000 people flee from Hpakant battle

Tuesday, August 28 — Within two weeks, over 6,000 miners and residents in Burma’s Hpakant jade mine have fled from war zones to local Christ churches and Buddhist monasteries in Hpakan.  The fighting intensified in the jade mining region in western Kachin State when a Burmese Army column took position near Maw Mau Bum— the jade mining village and strategic military post for the Kachin Independence Army’s Battalion 6. The internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently receiving basic food and medical assistance from the religious organizations and jade companies.  According to local volunteers, no IDPs to date have received government support.

Gold Mining expands in Burma's Hugawng “Tiger Reserve”

 Kachin environmentalists charge that the Yuzana Company has drastically stepped up its ecologically destructive practices in Kachin state's Hugawng (also Hukaung) Valley by expanding large scale gold mining in the environmentally sensitive area, officially known as the world's largest “Tiger Reserve”.

Hundreds of refugees sent back from China, more deportations expected

KACHIN REFUGEES IN CHINA'S NONGDAO CAMP BEFORE SENDING BACK TO BURMA.

Mai Ja Yang, BURMA — Since the beginning of this week a large number of refugees have been forced to cross back into Burma from China, where they had sought shelter following the outbreak of fighting between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Burmese government troops last year.

500 civilians flee Kachin state's Hpakant area as Burma army moves in

CHRISTIAN CROSS ON MAW MAW BUM MOUNTAIN UNDER CONTROLLED OF KIO. PHOTO: KACHIN NEWS GROUP

An estimated group of more than 500 civilians in the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) controlled section of the Hpakant jade mining district, fled their village over the weekend to escape Burma army troops who have moved into the area.

Kachin MP calls for repeal of act targeting the KIO

DAW DWE BU, MP OF BURMA'S LOWER HOUSE

In an interview with the Kachin News Group (KNG) earlier this week, Dwe Bu (also spelled Doi Bu), an ethnic Kachin lawmaker from Burma’s Lower House (Pyithu Hluttaw) representing the Unity and Development Party of Kachin State (UDPKS), again publicly called for the scrapping of a law that government authorities have used to arrest dozens of alleged members or supporters of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Burmese troops rob church offerings from Kachin civilians

 This past weekend in Kachin State, Burmese government troops robbed an estimated 8 million Burmese kyat (US$9,164)—which included 21,000 Chinese Yuan (US$3,333)—of church offerings from local residents.

Burma army troops assault Kachin woman in northern Shan state

48 YEAR-OLD SLGJ. LAHTAW JA ROI SAYS SHE WAS SEVERELY BEATEN BY BURMA ARMY SOLDIERS WHO STORMED HER HOME IN NORTHERN SHAN STATE ON AUGUST 2ND.

On the morning of August 2, a group of Burma army soldiers operating in northern Shan state entered the home of 48 year-old Lahtaw Ja Roi and proceeded to brutally beat her, according to the Kachin Voice news and website.

KIO makes plans for return of refugees following China's request

ACHIN REFUGEES IN LA YING CAMP INSIDE CHINA, HAVE BEEN PRESSURIZED OFTEN RETURING HOMES BY KCHINESE AUTHORIES SINCE THEY CROSSED INTO CHINA IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

Local Chinese authorities have requested that Kachin refugees staying in the Nongdao district of Yunnan Province go back to Burma as soon as possible, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has responded by building a new camp in its territory to house the displaced families, say aid workers based in the area.

Putao residents still difficult to buy rice

WOMEN AND MOTHERS ARE WAITING TO BUY RICE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN PUTAO (PUTAU), NORTHERN KACHIN STATE.

Due to rice shortages in Putao (Putau), the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) announced that it will sell rice for the local people; however, so far the local villagers have not been able to buy any.

Boarding school in Mai Ja Yang faces hard times as numbers rise

MAI JA YANG HIGH SCHOOL IN KIO-CONTROLLED TERRITORY IN MANMAW (BHAMO) DISTRICT IN KACHIN STATE, NORTHERN BURMA.

A boarding school in Mai Ja Yang that houses internally displaced Kachin children is struggling with a recent large increase in students. Over a few weeks in June the school tripled its population with the arrival of more than 300 students.

Diarrhea outbreak at Kachin IDP Camps

A MEDICAL CLINIC IN HPUNGLUM YAWNG CAMP NEAR, THE CAPITAL OF KACHIN INDEPENDENCE ORGANIZATION IN EASTERN KACHIN STATE, NORTHERN BURMA.

According to the Kachin Independence Organization’s Central Heath Department, a recent outbreak of diarrhea fueled by heavy rains and poor sanitation has severely affected many residents of internally displaced peoples (IDP) camps in KIO controlled territory.

KIO and govt peace team still negotiating a meeting place

AUNG MIN, BURMESE GOVERNMENT'S PEACE NEGOTIATOR (LEFT) AND KIO'S BRIG-GEN GUN MAW.

A new meeting between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and government peace team has been postponed until both sides can agree on a suitable location.

KIO says free education to continue despite conflict

MAI JA YANG HIGHT SCHOOL IS ONE OF THREE HIGH SCHOOLS UNDER THE KIO'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

Following one year of conflict between Burma's military and the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the number of internally displaced students currently enrolled in KIO-run schools is more than 10,000, according to the KIO's education department.

Burmese commander visits Putao to investigate rice shortage

PEOPLE WERE LINING UP IN HIGH HOPE OF BUYING SOME RICE AT THE GOVERNMENT-BACKED USDP (UNION SOLIDARITY AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY) OFFICE IN PUTAO TOWN, NORTHERN KACHIN STATE OF BURMA.

Burma Army’s commander Maj-Gen Zeyar Aung of the Northern Command visited Putao, (or Putau) to see if soldiers and residents were receiving enough rice.

Burmese military forces Kachin man to work as a porter

KACHIN INDEPENDENCE ARMY AEIZED ILLEGAL METHAMPHETAMINE (YAMA IN BURMESE OR YABA IN THAI) TABLETS WITH CHINESE YUAN AND BURMESE KYAT FROM A BURMESE POLICEMAN IN MONGKOE TOWN, NORTHERN SHAN STATE IN EARLY JULY.

A Kachin man who was arrested by the Burmese military Battalion 125 is now being forced to work as a porter, according to a Chinese man who was also detained.

Village headmen and businessmen accused of illegal logging

LONGGING IN IRRAWADDY MYITSONE DAM SITE, 27 MILES NORTH OF MYITKYINA,THE CAPITAL OF KACHIN STATE.

Villagers claim some headmen and businessmen are doing illegal logging without discussing it with the community between Tang Hpre village and Chyinghkrang village near Mali Hka River Confluence (Irrawaddy River Confluence).

The corpse of missing Kachin man found

RELATIVES FOUND THE BODY OF GALAU BAWM YAW NEAR BURMESE MILITARY BASE IN PANGSAI (KYOKOK) IN NORTHERN SHAN STATE ON JULY 22.

A body of a Kachin man who was arrested by the Burmese military has been found.

Galau Bawm Yaw was arrested under suspicion of being connected to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Several days after his arrest the authorities claimed they released him. But his wife said he wasn’t released. Bawm Yaw’s mutilated body was found on July 22.

USDP-backed women’s peace rally in Kachin state halted

MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT-BACKED USDP PARTY CELEBRATED 64TH KACHIN STATE DAY ON JANUARY 10 IN EARLY THIS YEAR.

A women’s peace rally in Kachin state, which was being organized by Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) member and Sumprabum constituency Senator Hka Mai Tang’s wife, has been scrapped following a public outcry.