Over 300 People Still Trapped in Kachin State’s Tanai

[about the trapped people] today (February 8), we were told that only between 60 and 70 people were able to come out yesterday (February 7). They said there were some delays due to inspections because [the trapped people] brought their motorcycles along. Around 300 people are still left behind. The trapped people are coming out every day,” said Tanai resident U Naw Taung.

Miners and business owners who escaped after being trapped among the fighting claimed that the Tatmadaw extorted money from them and confiscated motorcycles, mobile phones, machines used in the amber and gold mines, food supplies, and rice.

“Mobile phones, flashlights, and items were seized. Some seized amber and rice. They demanded rice. They told [the business owners] to claim their equipment. They demanded Ks 200,000 or Ks 250,000 for each motorcycle. The money was collected at Samat gate. There were around 800 motorcycles there. They allowed us to leave with our motorcycles after collecting the money since yesterday. Some people didn’t have to pay anything,” a miner who escaped after being trapped amid the fighting said on condition of anonymity.

According to him, there were around 800 motorcycles at Samat gate.

The miners and local residents have been trapped between Nan Kun (Pauk Wa) and Samat gate for over a week.

People who were trapped amid the fighting said they had to solve the food and health issues on their own and two amber miners died after stepping on a landmine when they went out to relieve themselves.

The trapped people were unable to go to another area so they have to sleep, eat, and relieve themselves in the same place, which caused some people to suffer from diarrhea, according to the miner.

“We had to cook rice with pots and beer cans. We had to use the pots in turn. We couldn’t leave so we had to sleep there, eat, and relieve ourselves in the same place. Some of them suffered from diarrhea. When we were first trapped there, two people went out to relieve themselves and died after stepping on a landmine. Since we didn’t dare to go out, we had to solve our problems like that,” he said.

The Tatmadaw officials only allowed the trapped people to leave after they submitted their names in groups of five and underwent questioning at Samat gate.

Fighting has been breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Tanai area since the end of January and the clashes are still ongoing, according to Tanai residents.

“The clashes are breaking out in the amber and gold mine areas and also in N’Gaga surroundings along the road to Namkham. We can hear [the sounds of gunfire] from Tanai. Clashes are breaking out both day and night. Aircraft haven’t come these days due to the weather conditions. They were flying back and forth two days ago,” said U Naw Taung.

Miners have been left stranded up to now after the Tatmadaw bombed the KIA’s 14th Battalion of Division 2 areas and the amber mines on January 27.

Over 1,000 Kachin residents protested in Myitkyina Capital of Kachin State, on February 5 to immediately rescue the residents that are trapped amid the fighting in Tanai area, Sumprabum in the northern Kachin State, and the northern Shan State and provide humanitarian assistance to them.

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This article originally appeared on BNI Online on Februray 9, 2018.