There seems to be no end in sight for fighting between Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the government’s Tactical Operations Command (TOC) in northern Shan state.
Maj. Labang Jawn Aung , commander for battalion 12 under KIA brigade 3, said about 50 TOC reinforcements were dispatched from their Bhamo township headquarters “but KIA forces were able to intercept them before they began their assault”.
TOC troops led by Lt. Gen. Myint Soe, first began its assault on KIA forces in Saga Nam Hkam village in Mabein township on Oct. 22 following government claims of illegal timber activity in the region. But KIA representatives have denied these accusations, claiming government forces conjured up reasons to attack them.
The fighting comes only weeks after a peace talk meeting in Kachin capital Myitkyina.
KIA officials reported that one of the three active TOT military outfits attacked Mong Dain Ba refugee camp and Saga Nam Kam village last week. Since then they have been in control of the area, dominating communication lines in and out of the village and preventing thousands from leaving the area.
KIA Maj. Labang Jawn Aung told Phophtaw News Association that government forces attacked them even after the government’s Union Peace-making Working Committee (UPWC) agreed to stop the fighting.
The conflict has been ongoing since a 17 year ceasefire with Naypyidaw ended in June of 2011. Fighting has slowed down in recent months, but with the deployment of the TOC groups to the area, clashes have become more frequent.
