Burmese government troops and Kachin rebels from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) battled for 3 hours Tuesday in southern Kachin State, according to people in the battle zone.
Local people said the fighting occurred between the towns of Manje (Mansi) and Madang Yang, in Manmaw (Bhamo) District, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
The fighting was between the Burma Army’s Manmaw-based Infantry Battalion No. 47 and the KIA’s Battalion 1, residents of Manje said.
A resident of Manje told the Kachin News Group, “Fighting broke out when Burmese soldiers approached the KIA position by taking students as a cover. It’s a cruel act of the Burma Army using students as human-shields.”
It was the second clash between the two sides near Manje.
No casualty report was released from either side.
Two government soldiers were killed in the first battle at Ywa Thit Kone, near Manje, on September 14.
Reinforcements from Manmaw were deployed to the Manje-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 601 two days ago, said residents.
