A Burmese Army mortar shell landed Wednesday, April 27, in the controlled area of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Hukawng Valley, in northern Kachin State, KIA sources said.
The shell fell in the territory of the KIA’s Battalion No. 14, based in Nambyu Village, near Kawng Ra village, on the Stilwell Road (or Ledo Road), near Danai (Tanai). No casualties have been reported, KIA officials said.
KIA troops in the battalion were put on alert. However, the Burmese military apologized, saying the incident was a mishap during an exercise by the Burmese Army, sources from Battalion 14 said.
The Burmese Army’s Artillery Company No. 078 is based in Danai, in the valley.
No military response was made by the KIA, an official said.
The KIA’s 2nd Brigade is based in the Hukawng Valley. It has four battalions- including Battalion No. 14.
The military-controlled central government labeled the KIA “Insurgents” in October, last year. However, it has avoided offensives against the KIA since then.
The KIA, which has bases in Kachin State and Northern Shan State, said it will not start a war with the central government because it wants to solve the five-decade long political problems between them through peaceful negotiation.
However, if the government begins an offensive against the KIA, civil war will break out on the borders of Burma with India and China, KIA officials said.
