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| The photo of two Burmese soldiers with uniform and civilian cloth was taken in the frontline of Pangsai (Kyukok) area in northern Shan state. |
Forces loyal to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Burma's military clashed several times over the past week in northern Shan state according to KIO sources. These are the first recorded clashes since the two sides met for peace talks late last month in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina.
On Monday June 10th fighting took place near Hpai Kawng village in the Pangsai (Kyukok) region. This fighting involved Section 5 of the KIO's local civilian militia force known as the Mungshawa Hpyen Hpung (MHH) and government forces from Infantry Battalion 125.
The government side was also supported by troops from the Kutkai based militia group headed by Hkun Myat, a member of parliament from the ruling USDP. Khun Myant and his militia are alleged to be heavily involved in Shan state's booming drug trade. According to a KIO official who took part in the battle the bodies of two Burmese soldiers were found after the fighting finished.
Fighting also took place on the evening of Sunday May 9 near Hka Lum village which is also located in the Pangsai (Kyukok) area. This fighting involved the same MHH unit from the KIO and an unknown Burma army unit. This fighting was more brief than the clash that took place on Monday.
On the evening of Saturday June 8 a brief fire fight also took place for about 20 minutes at Hka Lum village in Pangsai again between KIO civilian militia forces and an unknown unit from the Burma army.
According to the KIO official who spoke to the Kachin News Group (KNG) on the grounds of anonymity, because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media, all Kachin forces have been instructed by their superiors not to strike first at Burma army units. The clashes have continued however because Burmese military units continue to take provocative actions including entering KIO areas without warning which prompt the KIO forces to respond, the KIO official claimed.
As part of the 7 part agreement signed between the KIO and the government's peace negotiations team in May both sides pledged to take steps to reduce tensions and establish a troop monitoring mechanism that would prevent clashes. Despite the goodwill on display in Myitkyina last month, a formal ceasefire has yet to be agreed to.
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