Kachin fighters seize second town in ‘special region’ near China-Myanmar border

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies captured the town of Tsawlaw, Kachin State on Wednesday from junta forces and an allied militia the day after taking another town some 20 miles to the south, a KIA spokesperson claimed. With support from the Kachin People’s Defence Forces (Kachin PDF), the KIA initiated assaults on military outposts and police stations on Monday around Chipwe in Kachin State’s Special Region 1 some 75 miles northeast of the state capital, Myitkyina. A tactical hill base in Tsawlaw Township, also located in Special Region 1 north of Chipwe, was among the bases attacked by the allied Kachin forces on Monday. By Wednesday morning, the KIA and Kachin PDF had taken full control of the towns of Tsawlaw and Chipwe—both located on the N’Mai River some 20 miles west of the Chinese border—according to KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu. “We took Chipwe yesterday evening, and Tsawlaw around 7:30 this morning. This is confirmed,” Col. Naw Bu said on Wednesday. “As usual, they conducted airstrikes,” he added, referring to the junta air force. “And the garrisons on the ground put up as much resistance as they could. But we have captured all of them now.” The Kachin forces are still conducting operations to clear any remaining junta troops and pro-junta militia members in the area, according to Col. Naw Bu. While reports have circulated about the Kachin forces capturing 10 junta outposts and seizing weapons, ammunition, and prisoners, the KIA has not yet confirmed these details. The KIA and allied forces took over the towns of Chipwe and Tsawlaw, Kachin State this week Residents of Chipwe and Tsawlaw have reportedly fled their homes, seeking refuge in nearby villages and safe areas. There are also reports of civilians being injured and homes sustaining damage in Chipwe during the clashes, but the details could not be confirmed due to phone and internet service interruptions. Chipwe, a town of around 10,000 people, and Tsawlaw, which is home to around 6,000, are part of Kachin State’s Special Region 1, an area the Myanmar military designated for autonomous control by the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) militia since 1989. Since entering into a ceasefire with the Myanmar military that year, the NDA-K, headed by the 84-year-old warlord Zahkung Ting Ying, has operated as the Kachin BGF. Zahkung Ting Ying and other founders of the NDA-K were former leading members of the Kachin Independence Organisation, for which the KIA serves as an armed wing, but broke with the organisation when they agreed to the 1989 ceasefire and established the Kachin BGF. On June 7 of this year, Zahkung Ting Ying ordered his militia to repel any advances by the KIA and its allies. Areas historically controlled by the NDA-K, including Chipwe, Tsawlaw, and the border town of Pangwa, are home to various ethnic minorities including the Lhaovo, Lachik, Zaiwa, Lisu, and Rawang. The special region also includes the Chipwe Nge hydropower project, a joint venture shared by the Myanmar military and Chinese investors, as well as various rare earth mining operations. The KIA has not made any public statements clarifying its position on the continuation or management of these projects in the areas it has taken over. The KIA and its allies, especially the Kachin PDF, have been fighting against junta forces and allied militias throughout Kachin State this year. Last month, KIA-led forces clashed with junta and Kachin BGF forces east of Myitkyina, eventually capturing the town of Sadung. Fierce, ongoing fighting that broke out last month between junta and KIA-led forces near Hpakant, a jade production hub about 95 miles west of Myitkyina, has prompted most of the local civilian population to flee. Since capturing the town of Momauk some 120 miles south of Myitkyina in April, the KIA and allies have also been fending off attacks from junta troops based in the nearby city of Bhamo. KIA-led fighters have overrun numerous army bases since resuming attacks on junta forces in March 7, and have taken over the towns of Sumprabum, Injangyang, Sadung, Sinbo, Myo Hla, Dawthponeyan, Momauk, and Lwegel in Kachin State, as well as Mabein in northern Shan State.

Kachin fighters seize second town in ‘special region’ near China-Myanmar border

The Kachin Independence Army claims to have captured the town of Tsawlaw a day after taking control of Chipwe, another town in Kachin State’s Special Region 1, which is controlled by the pro-junta Kachin Border Guard Force militia

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