The office was closed after the Burmese Army’s Northern Regional Command gave a Sunday dead line to close the liaison office and the KIO’s Buga Company, in the Kachin capital.

“They (Burmese military) gave the order to close the liaison office and Buga Company on Sunday, so the office was locked last night and all staff have gone. Only one security person remains in front of the office,” said the source, who is close to the liaison office.

However, the Buga Company remains open at this time. It provides electricity to Myitkyina and other areas.

“We don’t know what to do, whether we should continue to work or hand over control to a private owner. It is not possible to stop working,” said an officer of the KIO’s Buga Company.

The last remaining liaison office of the KIO has been the main office for negotiating with the Burmese military government. The officer in charge, Col. Ji Nawng, and other staff left the office and arrived at the KIO headquarters at Saturday mid-night.

With the main liaison office closed it will be difficult to communicate between the two sides, according to a resident of Myitkyina, who is close to the KIO.

“Rev. Saboi Jum could not initiate contact between the two sides and Father Naw Din also tried and failed. It seems difficult to negotiate peace between them,” said the source.

All KIO members and their families and relatives have been moved to KIO control areas. Since last night, the head of the quarter administration and some soldiers wearing military uniforms and carrying guns patrolled around the city, eyewitness said.

The battle was sparked after Burmese troops tried to approach KIA Bridge 3 command and KIA Battalion 15 control areas. Military tension has increased and fighting continues.

The Burmese military ordered the KIA to give up its Bum Sen Post, at Sang Gang. However, the KIA refused and fighting continued until today.