The government is deploying several hundred Kachin soldiers from pro-government militias and its Border Guard Force (BGF), in the civil war against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State and Northern Shan State, sources from Kachin militias and the BGF said.

Sixty militiamen from the Rebellion Resistance Force (RRF), based in Hkawnglanghpu, in Puta-O District, led by Tanggu Dang, a.k.a. Ah Dang, have been deployed to KIA strongholds near the China border, in eastern Kachin State, since June, sources close to the militia group said.

Ah Dang’s men were transported from Puta-O to Myitkyina twice by the government-owned public airline, Myanmar Airway, in June, according to witnesses at Puta-O.

Sources close to the militia group added the militiamen were brought to the Kachin capital, Myitkyina, for the offensive by order of the Ministry of Defense in the country’s capital, Naypyidaw.

Ah Dang’s men, mainly formed by native Rawang tribal in Puta-O district, were also deployed during the brutal crackdown of the Buddhist monk-led demonstration in October, 2007. Over 200 of Ah Dang’s men were brought to Naypyidaw from Puta-O just before the monk’s demonstration started, militia sources said.

Moreover, the three KIA splitter groups, which transformed into the Burmese Army-controlled militia groups and Border Guard Force, the Pangwa-based New Democracy Army-Kachin (NDA-K), led by Zahkung Ting Ying, the Kawnghka-based Kachin Defense Army (KDA) and the Lawayang-based Lasang AwngWa Peace Group, led by Col. Lasang AwngWa, are also being pressured to send troops to fight against the KIA by Naypyidaw, said the groups’ sources.

According to sources close to the three groups, at least 60 troops from each group have been deployed to the frontlines around the KIA headquarters at Laiza, in eastern Kachin State, since the beginning of the civil war, in early June.

Burmese President, TheinSein, and his government are creating intra-ethnic clashes among six major Kachin nationals, the Jinghpaw, Rawang, Lisu, Zaiwa, Lashi and Law Waw (Maru), by using Kachin militia groups and the BGF against the KIA, Kachin political observers said.

However, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing of the KIA, which is calling for the establishment of a federal union in the country based on equality and civil rights for all ethnic groups, is gaining support from the Kachin public, its allies and the international community.

The 17-year ceasefire between the government and the KIO/A ended when government troops attacked the KIA at Sang Gang, in N’mawk (Momauk) Township, Manmaw (Bhamo) District, in eastern Kachin State, on June 9.