A Kachin Independence Army (KIA) officer and a civil department officer from Hukat village near Myitkyina in Kachin State have been arrested by the Burmese military.
A KIA officer told the Kachin News Group, Salang Kaba Gum Ba Tsin Yaw from Sub-Mogaung Territory Administration, and KIA Officer Dabang Hkun Seng of Brigade 5 were arrested by Burmese Battalion 37 while the men were visiting Hukat on July 16.
“Initially two officers and a body guard were arrested when they went to check on the village’s rice ration which falls under the Kachin Independence Organization's (KIO) administrative area. But fortunately the body guard manage to escape,” said the KIA officer.
According to the KIA officer the two men have been taken by Burmese Infantry Battalion No. 37 to Northern Regional Military Command.
“If they are not released their situation is very grim. The Burmese military are very cruel to KIA prisoners and will most likely torture them,” said the KIA officer.
The Burmese military tortured KIA Sergeant Bala Brang Mai from KIA Brigade 4 after he was arrested by Burmese Battalion 17 in northern Shan state.
Although it’s common for government troops to torture KIA soldiers and civilians while under arrest the KIA is not known to employ the use of torture on Burmese soldiers under their detention.
At the start of the conflict the Burmese military returned the mutilated body KIA Lance-Corporal Chyang Ying to the KIO after he was brutally tortured and killed during a prisoner exchange. The KIO returned two Burmese officers Captain Myat Ko Ko and Lt. Ko Ko Win and policeman Ye Naing unharmed.
Currently there are 40 Burmese soldiers being held in a Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) prison. Some surrendered to the KIA after they were injured from fighting.
According to Laiza Governor they may be released when peace negotiations with Burmese Railway Minister U Aung Min of the government peace team are concluded.
