Escalated fighting in Kachin State prompts exodus from Hpakant

Masses of residents have fled the town of Hpakant, Kachin State since last week as clashes intensified between regime forces and a coalition of fighters led by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The KIA and its allies began enforcing a blockade of most routes into Hpakant—the main hub for jade production in Myanmar—after fighting broke out on September 7 in the large village of Hseng Taung, located south of the Uyu River opposite Hpakant’s urban centre. The clashes, centred in Hseng Taung, show no sign of subsiding after more than 30 civilian deaths from shelling and airstrikes in Hpakant Township. Thousands of residents have fled their homes in the township in the past few days, according to a source connected with the KIA in Hpakant. “Many of those who fled were from Hpakant. Today, residents from outside the town and people with homes in lower Myanmar where they can shelter have also fled south,” the source said. “Almost all shops in the town have shut as residents moved their belongings, expecting battles. The KIA has set up a blockade around Hpakant,” he added. People leaving Hpakant for safety on September 20 (Photo: Tarlin Mg) Residents of various villages south of the Uyu River including Hseng Taung, Kyauk Thway Taung, Sa Paut, and Yu Mar have fled since the start of the fighting earlier this month. Shops started closing in Hpakant’s urban wards north of the river in the past few days. The military reportedly conducted at least five airstrikes in Hpakant last Thursday and began a steady barrage of shelling throughout the town. An artillery shell exploded in Sa Paut village on Thursday afternoon, killing one man and injuring another. “There was some fighting yesterday after the airstrikes,” a civilian man from Hpakant Township said on Friday. “They are still firing artillery shells today, and they’re still fighting in Hseng Taung. They rest in the morning then resume fighting in the evening.” “The situation is chaotic. The KIA and KPDF have encircled Hpakant,” he added, referring to the Kachin People’s Defence Forces, a KIA ally. “They are still firing artillery today, marking 14 days of conflict in a row.” View of Hpakant on September 20 (Photo: Tarlin Mg) Hpakant is the site of one of the regime’s tactical hilltop bases, as well as a well-fortified police station and several other outposts and military base camps. The recent fighting reportedly began with the junta forces’ takeover of a hotel in Hseng Taung on September 7 after receiving intelligence that KIA members were sheltering there. With civilians trapped on the premises, the KIA and its allies reportedly responded by attempting to besiege the hotel, resulting in a standoff and fighting that spread and escalated over the following two weeks as the military deployed artillery and airstrikes. On the morning of September 12, the allied forces seized a hilltop police station in Hseng Taung village, jointly occupied by junta soldiers and police. As of September 16, more than 150 houses had been burned and an unknown number of civilians killed in Hseng Taung, mostly by junta shelling. The KIA and allied fighters have captured 19 of the regime forces’ military bases in Hpakant Township since resuming offensive operations against the military in March, but key positions remain under junta control in the township, including two hilltop bases, several more base camps, two police stations, and a prison.

Escalated fighting in Kachin State prompts exodus from Hpakant

Civilians are fleeing for safety as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies enforce a blockade on Myanmar’s jade-producing hub of Hpakant and continue to fight for control of junta bases

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