The post situated on Loi Hkam Bum mountain some 70 miles northeast of Mandalay was controlled by the ethnic party’s armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) battalion 34, under 4th brigade before falling to the government’s IB 17, according to an anonymous KIA 4th brigade officer.

The fighting began after 100 troops from a Hkun Hka in Mongmit township base attacked the post from two sides with heavy artillery, the KIA officer said. The post was guarded by about 15 troops from the KIO's civilian militia Mungshawa Hpyen Hpung (MHH).

No casualties were reported on the KIA’s side, but the officer claimed there were likely several on the government side. The fighting took place on Wednesday, the same day representatives from 17 of Burma's major armed rebel groups sat down for three day conference in KIO’s Laiza headquarters.

Fighting also broke out between the KIA and government troops in southern Kachin state on Wednesday evening, according to anonymous KIA officials and villagers from the area.

The clashes involving troops from KIA battalion 12 and government soldiers (controlled by the Military Operation Command-21) were near Kawng Ja village in southern Kachin state's Mansi (or Manje) township and in Mabein township in neighboring Shan state.

The Kawng Ja fighting lasted for nearly three hours, according to Maj. Labang Jawn Awng, commander of KIA Battalion 12. Three KIA soldiers were wounded in battle, the major said. At the time of press no government injuries, or casualties, were reported.

On Monday and Tuesday heavy fighting involving a column of government troops led by Maj. Min Naing from Tactical Command 3 (also under MOC 21) took place at old Awng Nan village, on the road to Saga Nam Hkum in Mabein. The government troops were reinforcements for Tactical Command 2 led by Maj. Moe Zaw that had surrounded KIA forces around Saga Nam Hkum.