A Burma army column overtook the Ngaw Nga post manned by the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and allies of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) according to a KIA officer based in northern Shan state. The post near the route of the Shwe gas pipeline in the Nampaka area of Kutkai township in northwestern Shan state was long held by the KIA's 4th Brigade,.
TNLA forces withdrew at about 10 pm after Burma army Infantry Battalion 123 and 145 launched repeated attacks on June 18, the KIA officer said.
Previously KIA soldiers were often stationed to provide support to their TNLA allies. The ethnic Taang (or Palaung) armed group are relatively small in numbers, forming less than 3 years ago. During the recent offensive there were no KIA reinforcements present, the officers told the Kachin News Group.
There are estimated 200 Burma army soldiers now stationed in Ngaw Nga village located near the post.
Six government soldiers were wounded during the fighting, according to KIA sources.
Mungkoe clash
Tuesday also saw fighting break out between Burma army Infantry Battalion 128 and KIA backed Mungshawa Hpyen Hpung (people's army in Kachin) civilian militia in Mongkoe region in northern Shan state, according to KIA officers stationed in the area.
Burma army troops fired 60 mm mortar rounds at Win Seng village destroying 3 homes during the brief clash in between Loi Sa and Ying Seng villages, according to eyewitnesses.
In anticipation of renewed fighting many villagers have fled the area in the past few days, according to aid workers in northern Shan state.
Burma army and KIA battle in southern Kachin state
Clashes between the Burma army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) broke out in the Bhamo district in southern Kachin state earlier this week.
Two separate clashes took place on June 18 and 19 at the abandoned Du Hku village after Burma army Infantry Battalion 240 intruded into KIA Battalion 27 (under KIA 3rd Brigade) controlled territory, according to Salang Kaba Doi Pyi Sa, head of the local refugee and relief committee.
Burma army troops were assisted by the Light Infantry Division 99 that had been deployed to the area from Mansi (also Manje).
The first clash that happened in evening lasted only about 15 minutes. The second one the following morning lasted about 20 minutes, a KIA 3rd Brigade told the Kachin News Group on condition of anonymity.
“The Burmese troops intentionally made aggressive maneuvers towards the KIA post, so fighting broke out,” said the officer.
No casualties were reported from either side but both groups sustained injuries, the officer said.
Fighting also broke out near Mai Ja Yang, the second largest town controlled by the KIA's political wing the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). The area that is also home to thousands of internally displaced people (IDP) did not appear to threaten their safety, Doi Pyi Sa said.
Fighting ended after government troops retreated, returning to their base in Kai Htik.
At the end of May a delegation from Burma's government and the KIO signed an agreement to decrease military tensions and work towards peace. Since then clashes has continued in northern Shan state, and now in southern Kachin state and Mai Ja Yang.
“The clashes happened although there is a process agreed to by both parties towards reducing the conflict. The conflict will continue if government forces continue to venture into KIO territory,” Salang Kaba Doi Pyi Sa said.
