The ruling Burmese military junta seems to be tightening the noose around the Kachin Independence Organization’s (KIO) neck in the aftermath of the armed rebel group refusing to surrender its weapons as of September 1 as ordered by the regime.

The Burmese Army has tightened security in Northern Burma, especially in Myitkyina the capital of Kachin state. Troops are checking entry gates on the orders of the military authorities.

he junta is now desperate to arrest Kachin youth, who are members of the Education and Economic Development for Youth (EEDY) of the KIO.

“At night policemen in cars swarm all over. They wait and monitor every street corner searching for EEDY members. They are also stopping all motorcycles and checking,” said residents of the capital.

The authorities are not only searching for EEDY members but also people, who are suspected to have links with the KIO, said the resident.

The regime’s deadline to start surrendering weapons was September 1 but the ethnic Kachin rebel group ignored the junta’s order and released a statement on August 30 on its stance and its new policies.

The authorities had arrested over 100 EEDY members after the April 17 serial bomb blasts in Myitsone Irrawaddy dam in northern Myitkyina. They are still detaining over 50 of those arrested.

The EEDY members were interrogated by the Army Intelligence at the Northern Military Headquarters (Ma-Pa-Kha) and later detained in No.1 police station in Myitkyina.

“The road from Myitkyina to Namti Township is full of Burmese soldiers. They are patrolling and moving along the road with red flags,” said an eyewitness.

Security on the road from Myitkyina to Bhamo (Manmaw) Township, with the KIO headquarters in Laiza city located in the middle, has been stepped up. They are stopping everyone and carrying out checks, said the local travelers.