Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – All Burmese military offensives against Kachin armed groups must stop no later than midnight Monday, according to an ultimatum issued by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).
Fighting between government troops and the KIO has continued for two days with both sides sustaining casualties.
Fighting is also likely to break out in Northern Shan State, said the KIO, which prompted the KIO to issue its ultimatum, which it said was designed to prevent widespread civil war in Burma.
La Nang, a KIO central committee member, said, ‘Fighting is likely to take place across the country. But there’s no sign that they will stop the offensives.
‘We’ve ordered our battalions to resist the government attacks. Their offensives are beyond the limit of our patience. During the past two days, we did not send reinforcement to Battalion 15 because we don’t want the fighting to spread. We remained patient’, La Nang told Mizzima.
Sources in Naypyitaw said that the offensives were ordered following a meeting in Naypyitaw, the capitol. So far, the government has not responded to the ultimatum, La Nang told Mizzima.
At least 10 Burmese battalions under the Northern Command and Military Operations Command No. 21 based in Bhamo are engaging Battalion 15 of Brigade 3 in Momauk Township in Kachin State.
Areas around KIO headquarters in Laiza are being threatened, said KIA officials. Officials of the Buga Company, which is owned by the KIO, were evacuated from the area, but the company is still in operation, according to the KIA.
From a distance of six miles, government troops fired 82 and 120-millimeter motor rounds into KIA military camps, and troops retreated to a base one mile from Bum Sen, a KIA stronghold. The KIA is currently repositioning and resisting government attacks.
Sources said three KIA soldiers and an unknown number of government soldiers were killed in the recent fighting. At least 100 people injured in the fighting have been taken to Momauk Hospital and Bhamo Hospital, said La Nang, based on reports from local residents.
At least 2,000 villagers from the area around Lweje Township have reportedly fled to Kyegaung and Larring villages in China.
‘We tried to halt the fighting as much as we could, but they have launched a major offensive. We don’t want war. We have to defend ourselves, but we don’t like fighting’, La Nang said.
Residents in the area controlled by the KIA have been warned to be on the alert. Residents around Lajayung, Madeeyang and Aungja villages have fled to Laiza, according to KIA officials.