Last week troops from the Kachin Independence Organization's (KIO) armed wing withdrew from two posts in northwestern Shan state's Mabein township near the Kachin state border, according to KIO officials. The troop evacuation followed on the heels of the recent peace discussions with government officials in Kachin state capital Myitkyina from October 8-10.
Frontline posts at Je U and Nam Hkan, east of the Shweli River (also N’mau), were abandoned by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) battalion (12) troops. Troops headed west to Mansi (or Manje) township in Bhamo (or Manmaw) district; also part of their controlled territories, said Doi Pyi Sa, head of the KIO’s IDP and Refugee Committee.
Government troops now have full control of the area close to the KIO controlled Nam Lim Pa internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp, said Doi Pyi Sa. The camp is home to 1000 refugees near the China border.
A week ago KIA fought with a government light infantry Div. (99) column at Nam Hawm village, close to Je U, according to information obtained by KIA battalion (12) officials.
On Tuesday morning government forces fired about five artillery rounds at the KIA battalion (12) post in Mungding Pa, Manje township, according to a Kachin church official in to a Bhamo (also Manmaw).
A KIA officer that wished to remain anonymous officer told the Kachin News Group (KNG) that government troops entered the village at about 3 pm on the same day.
This information couldn’t be confirmed with Doi Pyi Sa who said due to poor communication he could only say that the village was attacked with artillery strikes. But he confirmed that government forces are seizing control of Mungding Pa and Kawng Ja.
The KIO remains the last ethnic armed group that hasn’t signed a ceasefire with the central government. At the end of this month representatives from all Burma armed ethnic groups are expected to attend an unprecedented meeting in KIO's de facto headquarters of Laiza.
