12 May 2010: A Burmese Army camp, named the Kayamate camp, was razed to the ground in a fire in the last week of April in Paletwa Township, Chin state western Burma.

“We heard an explosion at midnight and ran outside and saw the military camp was on fire,” said a local.

No one was injured but some bullets went off.

The Kayamate military camp has LIB 232 personnel posted, with its base in Nghapali, Arakan state. The fire broke out following a fight among soldiers in the camp.

The military personnel warned members of the Block Peace and Development Council in Paletwa Township not to talk about the incident.

“The fire broke out in the kitchen while they were cooking something to have with alcohol. They warned local people not to speak about the incident,” said a boatman.

Troops called in Kayamate villagers to rebuild the camp after it was gutted. The Kayamate military camp is located near the bank of Kaladan River and they collect taxes from boat men on the Indo-Myanmar border areas.

There are 30 military camps in Paletwa Township, Chin state.