CREDIT EMG 20.08
Two hours of fighting broke out between government troops together with local militia and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on early morning of August 17 near Myawgyaung village, in Pann Wa area of Kachin State, according to local sources.
“The government troops attacked us and the fighting took place in the morning that day. Though KIA suffered no casualties, a militiaman and a soldier from government was killed,” said an officer with the KIA.
The government has not commented on the skirmish but sources close to a pro-government militia group told Eleven Media that the fighting was due to the KIA’s refusal to leave an area.
“They [KIA] entered this area only in March 26 2012 and local people there started to suffer the trouble. The fighting will continue if KIA does not leave the area. They did not keep their promise at the previous peace talks. They tried to recruit new soldiers and construct new bases,” said a local person close to the local militia group.
U Zakon Ting Ring sent a letter to KIA on August 6 requesting them to retreat from militia-controlled areas in Kachin.
