Another battle yesterday in Kachin State’s Mann Si Township between government troops and the Kachin Independence Army is making life more perilous for the thousands of families trapped by the conflict, a KIA officer told Mizzima.
Vice Major Joon Aung, commander of KIA Battalion (3), said that another clash erupted at 9:00 A.M. near Namt Lin Par village in the township in Ba-Maw District as three battalions of government troops totaling 300 soldiers advanced in the area.
“We started shooting at each other as government troops moved in,” the KIA officer said, adding:“They used heavy weapons.”
Spokesperson of the Union Government did not reply to Mizzima’s requests for comment.
Residents of four village in the township – Mine-Khauk, Mone Dane Par, Kaung Jar and Namt Lin Par – have been trapped by the fighting, Vice Major Joon Aung said, adding that their situation is deteriorating.
It is not possible to get food to the families in the four villages, he said.
“The villagers cannot go anywhere. They cannot leave their villages. We planned to deliver sacks of rice donated by an NGO, but now it’s impossible because government troops are blocking us,” the officer said.
Their situation could turn desperate if the fighting persists, Vice Major Joon Aung added.
More than 700 sacks of rice donated by an NGO are stored in two villages – Kaung Jar and Mone Dane Par – that government troops have advanced into, KIA officers said.
On Sunday, more than 60 more people were taken to Namt Lin Par refugee camp by the KIA. The camp now holds more than 1,500 people.
Daw Khun Jar, a member of the Kachin Peace Network, said food supplies and communications have been cut off to some villages.
The United Nations on Friday expressed concern that the fighting could cause the loss of civilian lives. It estimated that up to 1,200 residents of Namt Lin Par village have fled their homes since the fighting erupted and called for safe access to be provided to villagers trapped by the fighting.
Fighting in the area erupted after government troops beefed up their presence in the township following three days of peace talks earlier this month, KIA officers said.
It is estimated that there are about 70,000 refugees in the state, with more than 20,000in Lazia Township where the Kachin Independence Organization’s headquarters is located.
Battles between government troops and the KIA persist despite ongoing peace talks. Leaders of armed ethnic groups will meet with members of the government’speace negotiators at a summit in Lazia Township from 29-31 October to sign a nationwide ceasefire.
