Dozens of Hpakant residents killed following arrival of junta forces

Around 30 civilians were reportedly killed in a series of unexplained shootings and artillery shelling following a military raid on Hpakant, a major jade mining town in northern Myanmar’s Kachin State, local sources told Myanmar Now.The violence occurred between May 27 and June 16. In the third week of April, the military dispatched a column of about 600 troops from Kamaing, roughly 40 miles from Hpakant, to reinforce its remaining positions after the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) seized most surrounding hilltop camps and villages and imposed a blockade on junta forces.Delayed by repeated ambushes, when the large column of junta troops arrived, they immediately launched raids on the town and surrounding villages, torching jade mining sites and shelling eastern parts of the area, sources say. At least 23 civilians were killed and 18 others injured in the assault, while several residents were reportedly arrested and executed, according to local sources.Since the arrival of junta troops, killings have increased notably, particularly in Long Hkin and Hmaw Si Sar villages in the town’s eastern area, which are under junta control. Consequently, many locals suspect these acts were carried out by the junta forces, a resident of Hpakant said. “Residents believe the junta army is carrying out the killings to instill fear and to falsely frame the resistance forces, in an attempt to damage the reputation of the revolution,” the man added.As of June 17, the number of people killed by unidentified assailants has risen to eight. On that day, a male body was discovered near a small bridge situated between the entrance to the village of Yu Mar and the exit of Mashika Htaung village, both in Hpakant.On the morning of June 16, a man was found shot dead in front of a betel nut shop in Long Hkin village, while another was wounded by gunfire near the village of Awng Yar. Later that afternoon, residents discovered the body of a man with his hands bound, dumped in Uru Creek near the Kyauk Sain jade office in Long Hkin. The body of a man who had been shot dead was found in front of a betel nut shop in Long Hkin village, Hpakant, on the morning of June 16. (Photo: Tarlin Mg) On June 4, a man’s body was recovered from a lake in front of a hotel in Hmaw Si Sar Village. Just over a week later, on June 12, the bodies of three homeless men were found shot dead in the same village.An officer from the Kachin People’s Defence Force (KPDF), deployed in eastern Hpakant, denied any involvement in the shootings and killings of civilians.“With junta troops stationed in the area, it’s impossible for our forces to patrol those streets or carry out any shootings,” the KPDF officer said. “While we didn’t see it happen firsthand, we are confident they (junta) were behind the killings.”He explained that the KIA leadership also prohibits its officers from carrying out killings and assassinations, so the likely perpetrators are the junta. Myanmar Now was unable to reach KIA information officer Col. Naw Bu for comment on the killings, and the junta has yet to issue any statement.A total of 23 civilians were killed in the fighting, with an additional eight victims slain by unknown assailants. Although fierce fighting took place in Hpakant town in recent days, the sounds of battle had stopped by the morning of June 16, the Hpakant resident added.“There’s no sound of fighting so far. It seems the two sides are holding positions face-to-face at Hmaw Wan Lay and Hmaw Wan Gyi,” the resident said. “Junta forces have blockaded the villages, stopping people from coming in or going out.” The Hpakant KPDF officer suggested that the fighting might persist, as the junta army is expected to reposition its forces soon.“They will rotate their forces. Once the current troops pull back, fighting will break out again,” the KPDF officer said. “It seems quiet now, but they are digging trenches, so the battle will likely resume soon.”China has exerted mounting pressure on both the Brotherhood Alliance, who launched Operation 1027 in northern Shan State, and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to halt their offensives and agree to a ceasefire.But despite this, the KIA has continued its campaign to dismantle junta control, capturing 14 towns across Kachin State since launching its offensive in March last year, along with the strategic town of Mabein in northern Shan.

Dozens of Hpakant residents killed following arrival of junta forces

After junta reinforcements reached Hpakant in late May, a surge of violence gripped the jade mining hub leaving residents trapped, terrified, and pointing fingers at the military

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