No peace in Kachin state as clashes continue

A border guard force soldier (left) and a Burmese soldier secure Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state. Photo: Kachin News Group

A seven point agreement aimed at reducing military tensions seems to have been forgotten by the government. Burma military continue to attack Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) bases. The agreement that was signed during the end of May peace talks fell short of a ceasefire, but was supposed to help end the fighting. A mechanism was agreed by both sides to put in place to ensure it.

However Lamai Gum Ja, a peace broker of Myitkyina based Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG) told Kachin News Group it’s unknown when the government will meet with them and the KIO led technical advisory team that they are part of.

An office was opened in the government controlled Kachin capital of Myitkyina on July 23. Ironically on the same day of the office opening government troops attacked Kachin forces in northern Shan state. Fighting followed near Mai Ja Yang, the second capital of KIO in eastern Kachin state.

On Saturday, joint forces of the Burma military light infantry battalion 521 and a Border Guard Force (BGF), formerly the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) led by Zahkung Ting Ying, attacked a KIA military battalion 10, under 1st brigade, base in Jubili near Chipwi. The NDA-K had defected from the KIO some years back.

On Monday, fighting continued at Myu Jawng, between Chipwi and Sawlaw.  KIA battalion 10 troops battled it against the government backed BGF.  At least two soldiers from the government’s side were reported to have been killed in the two separate clashes.  Ammunition and guns were captured, confirmed KIA officers based in the Laiza headquarters.

These latest government offences are interrupting the implementation of a peace process by the KIO’s technical advisory team, said Lamai Gum Ja.

The conflict is also affecting the more than 70,000 internally displaced people (IDP) in KIO controlled territories along the China border from returning home, said Doi Pyi Sa, head of KIO Refugee and IDP Relief Committee.

Since the government broke a 17-year ceasefire with the KIO on June 9 of 2011, Burmese President Thein Sein told the military on two separate occasions to stop offensives against the KIO.  However, Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the military, seems to have ignored the president decree.

The KIO continue to stick to their earlier position, and not willing to sign another ceasefire without political dialogue.

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