Senior Kachin Independence Army’s (KIA) officials in Laiza headquarters ordered troops to not take action against the recent Tatmadaw (Burma army) capture of Nam Lim Pa internally displaced peoples camp (IDPs). The orders issued on Tuesday may be related to KIA Vice Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Sumlut Gun Maw visit to Yangon, according to Major Labang Jawn Awng, a commander with KIA battalion 12.
Located in southern Kachin state, in territory held by the KIA’s battalion 12, Nam Lim Pa was home to more than 2,000 IDPs until being seized by the Tatmadaw last weekend. The army stands accused of taking advantage of an aid convoy. According to Jawn Awng, minutes after the aid convoy entered the camp large numbers of troops were dispatched to the area.
The following day heavy fighting erupted in the outlying area, continuing for three straight days, said Nam Lim Pa resident Lahpai La Doi. After the order was issued to not directly engage with the Tatmadaw fighting largely stopped, said an anonymous villager who fled from the area.
Over 50 clashes between government troops and the KIO have taken place in Battalion 12 territory since June, according to Jawn Awng, claiming that the Tatmadaw suffered more than 100 casualties in this period. Four KIA soldiers were reportedly killed and more than 10 seriously injured during the same time.
Currently there are at least 1000 Tatmadaw soldiers from 20 battalions under Military Operation Command 21 (MOC-21) operating in the area since October, according to KIA estimates. The army have wrestled control of about 20 villages from the KIA in the Mansi area.
