Burma army takes post from KIO allied TNLA

KIA Battalion 8 soldiers, northern Shan state.

On Tuesday June 18th a column of Burma army troops took control of a post manned by forces from the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) a group consisting of ethnic Ta'ang (or Palaung) who are allied with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), according to a KIA officer based in northern Shan state.

The Ngaw Nga post is located in the Nampaka area of Kutkai township in north west Shan state, near the route of the Shwe gas pipeline in territory long held by the KIA's 4th Brigade.

TNLA forces withdrew from the post at about 10 pm local time after Burma army units from Infantry Battalion No. 123 and No. 145 launched repeated attacks, the KIA officer said.

In the past KIA forces were often stationed at the post to support their allies from the TNLA, a relatively small group which was formed less than three years ago. According to the KIA officer on the evening in which the post was captured there were however no KIA reinforcements at the post.

There are now an estimated 200 Burma army troops stationed at Ngaw Nga village in the vicinity of the post, according to the KIA officer.

According to KIA sources six government soldiers were wounded during the fighting which led to the post being abandoned, but this could not be independently confirmed.

Mungkoe clash

Tuesday also saw fighting breakout in the Mongkoe region between Burma army troops from Infantry Battalion No. 128 and the KIA backed civilian militia Mungshawa Hpyen Hpung (people's army in Kachin), according to KIA officers in Mongkoe.

The brief clash occurred in an area located between Loi Sa and Ying Seng villages. Burma army troops fired 60 mm artillery at Win Seng village and damaged three homes there. According to eyewitnesses the homes were completely destroyed by the ensuing fire.

Aid workers operating in northern Shan report that many villagers have fled to safety over the past few days in anticipation of renewed fighting.

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