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A Kachin Baptist pastor and his family members were physically assaulted by Burma army forces in Kachin state's northern Putao district earlier this month, according to friends of the alleged victims. Army troops are said to have beaten up Ram Mai and his family as fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the government forces broke out near the pastor's village at Nhka Ga.
The fighting around Nhka Ga involved government troops and their allies from a local militia group led by Kachin businessman Ahdang (also Danggu Tang). According to local residents the fighting in Putao district, which has continued for more than two weeks, began after government forces and the Ahdang militia attacked a KIA Battalion 7 post near Nhka Ga village on August 28.
Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samsun, General Secretary of Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) told the Kachin News Group that his organization had confirmed that Ram Mai and his family were physically assaulted by army troops in front of several witnesses. Due to the ongoing skirmishes in the area it has been impossible to determine Ram Mai and his family's current whereabouts, according to the KBC chief.
According to local residents tensions remain high in the Nhka Ga area, where government troops from Infantry Battalion No. 46, IB No. 137 and IB No. 138 and an unknown artillery battalion have increased their presence significantly over the past few weeks.
Transportation and aid assistance blocked
Since the fighting started in the Putao district at the end of August hundreds of government troops have been deployed to the area. All forms of civilian transportation to the areas near to where the fighting has taken place have been blocked by government forces, according to local sources.
The most senior military commander based in Putao, the head of the Military Strategic Command (MSC), has prevented both trapped villagers and those hiding in the forests from receiving outside assistance and humanitarian relief, according to members of the Putao Baptist Association. Farmers who live in Nhka Ga and the surrounding area have been banned from returning to their farms, local villagers KNG.
Ferry transportation between the town Machyangbaw and Nhka Ga along the Mali Hka river has also been halted by government forces since the end of August, according to local villagers.
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