Myanmar junta troops still holding hostages as clash near Hpakant continues

Subscribe to the Myanmar Now daily newsletter. It's free. Sign up > An ongoing battle between regime and resistance forces near the jade-mining town of Hpakant showed no signs of ending on Tuesday, raising concerns for the safety of junta hostages and other civilians. The incident began late Saturday when a column of about 100 regime soldiers entered the village of Hseng Taung, located some three miles south of Hpakant, and took over a local hotel. From their positions in and around the Lucky Man Hotel, the junta troops began firing on the village, leading to clashes with fighters from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied groups, according to KIA spokesperson Col. Naw Bu. “As of today, the fighting is still ongoing around the hotel,” he told Myanmar Now on Tuesday, adding that the hotel has been completely surrounded by the KIA-led forces. Most residents of Hseng Taung have attempted to flee the village to escape the artillery crossfire, but all roads in the area have been closed since the fighting began, according to locals. There are also fears for the staff at the Lucky Man Hotel, who have not been allowed to leave despite the risk to their lives. “They’re still there, causing concern among their families. Some of the hostages are female hotel workers,” said a Hseng Taung resident who asked to remain anonymous. According to the resident, the soldiers have been firing heavy weapons from inside the hotel, potentially endangering the lives of the hostages. On the first day of fighting, junta troops reportedly shot and killed three young men in Hseng Taung. It was unclear at the time of reporting if there have been any subsequent civilian casualties. According to local sources, Yup Zau Hkawng, a prominent Kachin State businessman and reputed military crony, was shot in the thigh by junta troops while trying to mediate for the release of captured civilians. The regime has not released any statement on the hotel raid or the hostage situation in Hseng Taung. Its official website has not reported on any clashes in Kachin State in the past 30 days. Last month, the KIA reported that it had captured two hilltop bases near Hpakant—the La Mawng base, located about seven miles west of the town, and the Taw Hmaw base, about 12 miles to the north. The military still has control of a hilltop base in Hseng Taung, as well as at least three other major bases in the vicinity of Hpakant.

Myanmar junta troops still holding hostages as clash near Hpakant continues

Regime soldiers holed up in a besieged hotel have yet to release captive employees, four days into a battle that began over the weekend

Subscribe for full access

Fear grips Mandalay as junta-backed militias and kidnappers prey on residents

For Myanmar migrants in Thailand, hope is a 100-baht lottery ticket

‘Will it be different this time, Grandson?’

Across a border and into a war: A Karenni leader’s final journey

Subscribe for full access

Related Articles

At least two killed in blast in Myanmar’s Rakhine state capital

Nighttime junta airstrike kills 2 and injures 6 in Pauktaw Township

Suu Kyi speaks to son for first time in more than five years

Six women killed by Myanmar junta airstrike in Budalin