Burmese Military Artillery Pounds KIA Headquarters Laiza Area

Kachinland News (KLN) | December 18, 2017

Burmese army troops currently based around KIA headquarters Laiza fired several mortar rounds on KIA’s frontline positions in the past week. Bumre-based Burmese army troops fired six artillery rounds on Munglai Hkyet on Dec 15, and two artillery rounds on Dec 14, reported KIA sources.

Similarly, Burmese army’s 385^th LIR troops currently based at Hka Ya Bum fired several rounds of anti-aircraft guns and MG-42 machine guns on KIA 23^rd Battalion’s Laja Bum Post and Hkin Du Kawng Post on Dec 13, and Lup Hka Kawng post on Dec 11.

On Dec 11, Hka Ya Bum-based 385^th LIR troops fired at least 20 rounds of MG-42 machine guns on Lup Hka Kawng post around 5 pm.

As Burmese military artillery pounds KIA frontline posts, battles continue to rage between the two sides in KIA headquarters area.

A battle took place between KIA’s Mobile Battalion troops and Burmese army’s 382^nd Light Infantry Regiment troops near Zai Awng in southeastern Kachin state on Dec 17 at 7 pm.

KIA frontline sources reported that Burmese army’s 388^th LIR troops launched multiple attacks on KIA’s 255^th Mobile Battalion’s Pung Ling post on Dec 14 at 8:55 am and again at 1:15 pm. While Infantry troops attack Pung Ling Post, Burmese army’s artillery units pounded KIA positions with several artillery shells.

KIA sources said Burmese army troops from Da Law-based 63^rd LIB, Sadung Bum-based 308^th LIR, 309^th LIR, 142^nd LIB, 56^th LIB and troops under Mogaung-based 3^rd Military Operations Command are active around KIA headquarters Laiza area and more battles are expected as troops movements have increased in the past week.

On Dec 12, Burmese army’s 309^th LIR troops reportedly told Hkawk Jang village elders to scout for them by taking pictures around the area.

Currently, Burmese army troops from 27^th LIB, 38^th LIB, 40^th LIB, 47^th LIB, 51^st LIB, 56^th LIB, 63^rdLIB, 93^rd LIB, 308^th LIR, 309^th LIR, 321^st LIR, 381^st LIR, 382^nd LIR, 383^rd LIR, 384^th LIR, 385^th LIR, and 388^th LIR are stationed around Laiza area.