Yesterday the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) refused to allow Burma army officials to re-enter Nam Lim to make photo records of its inhabitants, a KIA officer said. Burma army troops allegedly killed six civilians in the village after wrestling control of the area from the rebel group in November.
Nam Lim Pa and an internally displaced person's (IDP) camp had a total population of approximately 2,000 people before being overrun. Most of the villagers and IDPs fled to KIO run camps closer to the Chinese border.
When the KIA recently re-took control of the camp, the bodies of six people were found in shallow graves by a Kachin relief group. The only people who stayed behind in the camp were sick and elderly too old or weak to flee from the army's take over. It is suspected they were executed by the soldiers.
The recent request to enter the camp was passed from a senior official with LI 601th battalion to KIA 12th battalion Commander Major Labang Jawn Awng through local village headmen, the commander said.
“The government forces said they wanted to visit the village for a moment to take photo records. We told them we will not allow entry to the village for even a moment. Fighting will break out if government troops ignore this warning,” Labang Jawng Awng warned.
The army column is now stationed only two miles from Nam Lim Pa, the Kachin News Group has learned.
Government troops withdrew from the village on Dec. 28 after being forced out by KIA forces, Jawn Awng said.
The Burma army has faced criticism for seizing Nam Lim Pa IDP camp despite promising to UN aid agencies they wouldn’t, said Labang Doi Pyi Sa, head of the KIO’s IDP and Refugee Relief Committee based in Laiza headquarters.
The takeover came shortly after a convoy from Catholic NGO crossed the front-line to deliver food aid to the camp. Government troops consumed much of the rice found at the camp that was intended for IDPs. The rest was allegedly used to reinforce their bunkers, Doi Pyi Sa said.
Troops also recently withdrew from Mung Ding Pa on Jan. 3, another area previously controlled by KIA battalion 12. According to estimates from KIA officials, more than 1,000 troops from 11 battalions remain deployed in Mansi township in territory previously held by the KIA. Five have been identified as IB 56 and 276 and LIB 419, 438 and 602.
