The fighting has been taking place near Gwayhtaw village between the army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) since 7 pm on March 16 until 5 am on March 17th, an IDP reported from Malizwit village close to Gwayhtaw village.
“The fighting took place all night. I could not sleep in my village. Some villagers had to sleep in the forest. Three heavy shelling fell near the village. No one was injured,” the villager added.
Two male protesters were shot dead when security forces used live rounds on anti-regime protesters in Myitkyina on March 8.
The KIA raided a military outpost near the village of Sel Zin in Kachin State’s jade-mining hub, Hpakant Township, overnight on March 11, as part of their counter-attack to punish the army for shooting at peaceful protestors with live ammunition.
Demonstrators in Namti and Hopin in Mohnyin Township Kachin State have applauded KIA support, and called on deposed parliamentarians to set up a federal army.
Some people remain in Malizwit village. More than 200 people from the villages on upstream of Myitsone River have fled their villages due to the intensified fighting.
