Battles Rages in Je Lan; Burmese Army Continues Shelling Gidon Post

Kachinland News (KLN) | December 12, 2016

Around 12:00 p.m. on December 11 near Manau Bum in northern Shan State between Loi Mawk and Nam Ti in Je Lan area, a combined force of Burmese army troops under 33rd Light Infantry Division and Panse militia clashed with KIA’s 9th Battalion troops under 4th Brigade, a KLN source reported. The KIA troops reportedly seized Burmese army’s weapons and ammunition after the fight.

It is reported that the Burmese army troops from 99th Light Infantry Division ordered residents from Hka Lum village to leave not later than 3:00 p.m. on December 11. Hka Lum village sits on the highway leading to Mongkoe. The villagers were abruptly told they would be shot on sight if they did not leave. Furthermore, Burmese army troops threatened to burn down the village if KIA troops attacked, village residents reported.

Frontline KIA sources from Kachin State report that Burmese army troops began heavy mortar shelling at Gidon post, manned by KIA’s 252nd Mobile Battalion, from 1:20 p.m. on December 11. The shelling resumed at around 6:45 pm and local residents lived as far as 10 km said they heard continuous sound of artillery fire.