Residents of Nam San Yang Village in Waingmaw Township, which is situated near the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) headquarters, are currently evacuating due to escalating military tensions between the Military Council troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
According to a local woman, following the clash that took place between the Military Council column and the KIA at Nam San Yang Bridge, which began around 5:00 a.m. on July 3, the residents of Nam San Yang began making preparations to temporarily evacuate by approximately 10:00 a.m.
Military tensions escalated on June 16 when the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) prevented the Military Council troops from launching combat operations towards Nam San Yang village.
One week following the incident, families with children and elderly individuals from Nam San Yang village sought refuge in Waingmaw Township and Myitkyina Township as a precautionary measure. At present, all the villagers are making preparations to evacuate from the area. Military tensions escalated on June 16 when the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) prevented the Military Council troops from launching combat operations towards Nam San Yang village.
One Villager said "We have all worked hard to rebuild our lives, and we continue to remain patient because we are uncertain if we will be able to return here when the time comes to flee again. The Military Council has arrived at the Nam San Yang Bridge, and we can hear the sound of gunfire. They are instructing us to flee, and the situation has become very complicated. We are currently attempting to escape,” she said.
When approached for comment, Colonel Naw Bu, the information officer at the KIO headquarters, provided the following statement regarding the military tension situation between the Military Council and the KIA in Nam San Yang village.
"We received reports of the Military Council initiating combat operations near Nam San Yang Bridge. Following that, we were informed about the launching of artillery shells, possibly 120mm mortars, in the vicinity of the Hka Ya Bum and Bum Len Bum regions. The exact motive behind their offensive remains unclear. It appears they may seek to establish a new base in the hills surrounding Nam San Yang, where they previously resided. We hope that Nam San Yang can avoid any battle."
In Nam San Yang village, the intense clashes between the military and the KIA in 2011 forced all the local residents to evacuate their homes for approximately eight years. It was only in December 2018 that they were able to return to their homes.
Both armed groups reached an agreement to refrain from entering and residing in the vicinity of Nam San Yang village, ensuring the safe return of the local residents to their homes. However, military tensions escalated when the Military Council troops made preparations to establish a presence near the village. These instances occurred once in September 2022, again on June 16, 2023, and once more on July 1.
U Fowler Gham Phan, who played a significant role in assisting the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Nam San Yang to return home, along with the Kachin State Government under the Military Council, is reportedly scheduled to visit today. Their visit aims to prevent any potential conflicts or fighting in the vicinity of Nam San Yang village.
However this report could not be independently verified by the KNG news agency, and it remains uncertain whether there will indeed be a meeting with the KIO to address the situation.
On July 2, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) issued an order for the residents along the border and in Nam San Yang village to remain, prepared in light of the heightened military tension surrounding the area.
According to Colonel Naw Bu, the information officer of the KIO, he stated that if the Military Council persists in carrying out combat operations, the intensity of the fighting in the region will escalate.
