The 4th brigade of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) based in Northeast Shan State, is being closely monitored by the Burmese Army using the people’s militia, said a resident.
Burmese troops are on the lookout for two battalions of the Loikang-based KIA’s 4th brigade which moved a few days ago. It is using the people militia for surveillance, the local added.
“Over two days, they (junta) have been searching for the two KIA battalions, Hpawng Seng, Pangsai and Munggu (Mongkoe) villages with the help of people’s militia,” said the resident.
Tension between the Burmese military junta and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political-wing of KIA has mounted since the Kachin ethnic armed group rejected the Border Guard Force (BGF) proposal by the regime after the April 22 deadline given by the junta.
“KIO/A will not attack the Burmese troops but if they continue to search and find us there will be clashes,” he said.
The KIA's 4th Brigade Command in Loikang, Shan State, northeast Burma.
There are four battalions-- No. 2, No. 8, No.9 and No.17 under the command of the KIA’s 4th brigade. Last year, the junta pressurized the brigade by giving two options of transforming into three militia groups and withdrawing all battalions to Kachin State. KIA rejected it.
KIA refused the junta’s proposal because the state is historically important for the ethnic armed group. The KIO was formed in October 25, 1960 and its armed wing KIA was set up in February 5, 1961 near Lashio in Northeast Shan State.
“They (junta) are sending more troops near the 4th brigade, where it can reach in 20 minutes by foot,” said the local source. The Burmese Army has ordered militias, formed forcibly with local people to take positions around the 4th brigade.
“KIA may have little chance to defend their camp if the Burmese Army attacks their 4th brigade because it has reinforced troops,” said the resident.
The junta is organizing people’s militia with local people by force mainly to send them to the front lines if they take on KIA.
“No one wants to join the militia because they don’t want to fight their own people. If there is battle they will run,” said the local.
Most members of militias are Kachin ethnics and they could not escape the junta’s dragnet because of fear of reprisal and some are joining for their own business interests, said the villager.
