Battles Rage in Southern Kachin and Northern Shan State

Kachinland News, September 15, 2013

Battles continue to rage between KIA’s 12th and 27th Battalion troops and Burmese army’s 69th LIR, 522nd LIR, 221st LIR, 323rd LIB, and 240th LIR in KIA’s 12th Battalion area in southern Kachin State on Sept 14.

KIA’s 12th Battalion troops and a combined force of Burmese army’s 69th LIR and 522nd LIR reportedly exchanged artillery fire at Nang Hpang and Nam Hku Hka on Saturday beginning 12 pm for half an hour.

About 150 soldiers from Burmese army’s 69th LIR and 522nd LIR launched an attack on KIA’s 12th Battalion position at Nam Hpang Hka hku at around 5:25 pm. The battle lasted for about a half hour and one KIA soldier died and two others wounded. KLN is unable to confirm casualties on the other side.

Another group of KIA’s 12th Battalion troops encountered another combined force of Burmese army’s 69th LIR, 522nd LIR and 323rd LIR between Nam Hpang Hka and Nam Me Hka at around 5:45 pm. Burmese government troops later retreated from this area after the two sides exchanged fire for about 45 minutes.

On the same day, about 100 soldiers from Burmese army’s 240th LIR launched an attack on KIA 27th Battalion’s position at Lahkum Bum. The exchange of fire started at around 9 am and was going on until 5:40 pm.

In another front in northern Shan State, Kachin people militia (MHH) troops under KIA’s 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade fought against Burmese army’s 221st LIR troops near Nam Hpai junction on Sept 14 at 12 pm.