KIA forces in Nan Sanyan, a KIA controlled area in Kachin State (Photo-EMG)
Myitkyina – Representatives of the Myanmar government and the Kachin Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG) have agreed to hold an emergency meeting to ease military tensions between government troops and the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) at the end of April in Myitkyina, sources say.
Myitkyina – Representatives of the Myanmar government and the Kachin Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG) have agreed to hold an emergency meeting to ease military tensions between government troops and the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) at the end of April in Myitkyina, sources say.
The meeting was originally meant to be held on April 25, but it was postponed for two days because some negotiators will not be available that day. The meeting was rescheduled for April 27, said Lamai Kunjar from PCG.
Government troops and battalions No 6 and No 14 of KIA No 2 Brigade have been fighting in Hpakant and Tanai since mid-April, and both sides blame each other for the conflict, he said.
“Right now the fighting is taking place a little in area where KIA No 6 battalion is based. The fighting also occurred in the area where the No 14 battalion is based, so we want to hold discussions to prevent further clashes,” he said.
“The situation is very confusing, and both sides accuse each other for the fighting. There are at Nanttat stream, and the army based at one side of the river, and the KIA is on the other side. The army said KIA forces fired first with big guns, while the KIA said the government troops first fired and they returned fire,” he explained.
The government team led by Kachin State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Than Aung and the KIA team led by Colonel Zaw Taung have been organised. The tension is reduced for both sides since they met regularly. However, when the Myanmar army shelled the military academy of KIA on November 19, 2014, KIA stopped their regular meetings with the government.
On March 16, President Thein Sein, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services, KIO general secretary Dr La Ja, Central Committee member Swan Lut Gan and General Gwan Maw, second commander-in-command of KIA met in Nay Pyi Taw, and negotiation teams from both sides met again at the KIA liaison office in Nay Pyi Taw on April 6 to discuss and resolve conflicts.
Although the government and KIO signed a ceasefire between 1994 and 2011, the fighting has reoccurred since June 2011 under the new government era. Since then, over 1,500 clashes conflicts have taken place across the country. Conflicts continue to rage in Kachin State and Shan State.
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