New Skirmishes Reported As More Troops Deployed in Kachin and Northern Shan State

Kachinland News (KLN) | August 4, 2016

Local sources in Kachin and northern Shan State said more Burmese army troops arrive in their areas this week as Burmese government and EAOs’ leaders prepared for the 21st Century Panglong Conference.

A Kamai resident said he has seen Burmese army troops with armored military vehicles and military trucks with full of horses headed to Moe Gaung and Hpakant areas on Wednesday. Similarly, a source in Theinni, northern Shan State said he saw Burmese army troops equipped with military tanks and armored vehicles headed to Kun Long area.

Skirmishes between Burmese army and KIA troops continued in some part of Kachin and northern Shan State.

A combined force of Burmese army troops from 47th LIB, 105th LIB, 381st LIB, 382nd LIB and 390th LIB encroached into Jahtu Zup area early this week and engaged in a battle with KIA’s 14th Battalion troops near Hka Da Ja Maw and Jahtu Zup in Danai Township on Aug 3 at 9:40 am.

Before this offensive operation, Burmese army troops under Namti-based Regional Military Command fired 5 mortar rounds on KIA’s 14th Battalion position near Hka Da Zup on Aug 1 at 10:50 pm.

In southern Kachin State, a skirmish reported between KIA’s 12th Battalion troops and Burmese army’s 276th Light Infantry Battalion troops at Htang Rang Kawng in Mansi Township on July 29 at around 8 am.

In northern Shan State, a battle took place between KIA’s 9th Battalion troops and Burmese army troops under 99th Light Infantry Division at Bum Pri Bum in Kutkai Township on Aug 3 at 11 am. KIA source said the battle began as about 300 Burmese army troops advanced into Kong Mu area and KIA’s 9th Battalion positions.

Earlier this week, KIA’s 9th Battalion troops and a combined force of Burmese army troops under 99th Light Infantry Division and Pyithutsits encountered at a location between Dima and Nam Um in Kutkai Township on Aug 1 at around 10 pm, reported a source in Kutkai.