There have been 21 armed clashes between government troops and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) since both sides met for peace talks at the end May, KIO spokesman La Nan told AP in a recent article.
The talks that took place in the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina resulted in a 7-point agreement being signed by both sides that pledged to decrease military tensions to work towards a future agreement.
Despite the fact that the vaguely worded 7-point agreement was hailed as a “breakthrough” by some of those involved in the negotiations, including Min Zaw Oo from the state-backed Myanmar Peace Center, things haven’t changed on the ground. Few, if any, of the more than 100,000 refugees displaced by the conflict have been able to return home.
Much of the recent fighting that has taken place has occurred in northern Shan state. Fighting also happened last week near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin state. However most of the recent clashes between the KIO's armed wing the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the government have been relatively brief; a stark contrast with the heavy fighting that broke out at the beginning of the year.
KIA troops have been instructed by the commanders not to fire at Burma units unless they enter KIA territory. The KIA has stopped attacking Burma army supply lines; a tactic that weakened their army's attempts to strengthen front line positions.
La Nan told AP that Burma's military is benefiting from the agreement to de-escalate fighting allowing them to re-deploy troops and ammunition to their front line positions.
"It will be correct to say that the government used the opportunity of peace talks to prepare for the next assault," La Nan said.
"We cannot build trust just by holding talks. It is necessary to have a firm commitment to resolve this through a political dialogue."
