Burma army traps 700 Kachin civilians in church for three days

Burmese soldiers.

Government forces have confined an estimated 700 Kachin civilians, mostly women and children, to a church compound in southern Kachin state's Mansi township, the Kachin News Group has learned.  The army's refusal to let any of the trapped villagers leave church grounds comes amid escalating tensions between the military and the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

The villagers have been forced to stay in the Mung Ding Pa Baptist Church since Tuesday when a Burma army column consisting of more than 200 troops entered Mung Ding Pa village, according to Rev. Ze Htawng a pastor from the church who is currently in Bhamo.  As they entered the village, located in territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Army's (KIA) battalion 12, the column fired several 60 mm mortars, the pastor said.  The he villagers were ordered to gather in the local church shortly after the troops entered Mung Ding Pa.

"This morning some villagers were allowed to get rice from their homes but they were ordered to return to do their cooking in the church. Villagers were warned they would be shot dead if they leave the village.  They (Burma soldiers) are taking position around the village,” Rev Ze Htawng told the Kachin News Group yesterday.   Troops went so far as to shoot at the church leaving large bullet holes on the walls, Rev Ze Htawng added.

Troops from Infantry Battalion No. 56 are alleged to have shelled the village earlier this week.  The shelling killed one and injured four others, according to Zau Shan, a KIA official based at the group's 3rd Brigade headquarters.

Mung Ding Pa is located in Mansi township where a combined group of troops from Infantry Battalion No. 276 and two Light Infantry Battalions No. 319 and 601 are currently engaging in combat operations against KIA Battalions 12 and 27 in an around the Mung Ding Pa area.

Mung Ding Pa which has some 600 households consisting of more than 2,000 people has been a KIA controlled village for many years.  Since fighting erupted in the area last week many villagers have fled to nearby Mung Hkawng village.  Others have gone to farms and forests, according to Rev Ze Htawng.

“We are very worried about the villagers’ situation because of the Burma army. Despite recent talks in which it was agreed to reduce military tensions the conflict continues because of the army.  The government thinks it can attack the KIO because it hasn't signed a ceasefire,” said Doi Pyi Sa, head of the KIO's IDP and Refugee Committee.

In Putao district in northern Kachin state 53 Kachin civilians remain trapped in Nhka village because government forces have blocked them from leaving, holding them as virtual hostages, according to a pastor who visited the area.

The recent bout of clashes between the government and the KIA broke out just days after both sides signed an agreement promising to deescalate the situation and reduce fighting.

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