The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) used landmines to attack a military column travelling through Tanai Township in Kachin State on Wednesday morning and subsequently besieged the troops, according to the organisation’s spokesperson.
KIA information officer Col Naw Bu said that the troops were cut off on the Tanai – Shing Bwi Yang road near La Jar bum village—some 20 miles northwest of Tanai—at 8am.
A clash is believed to have ensued.
“We still can’t disclose detailed information as the news from the ground and the details of the battle haven’t reached us yet,” he told Myanmar Now.
Local media reported that the military column was headed to Ta Ron village, halfway to Shing Bwi Yang, and was blocked by the KIA’s 45th Battalion under Brigade 2. Civilian vehicles were also allegedly barred temporarily from using the route.
A local told Myanmar Now that the situation was tense as the military column was unable to leave the area due to the KIA attack, and that residents of villages near the area were making preparations to flee if the fighting intensified.
A junta unit of some 200 soldiers stationed in Dawthponeyan (Dawpumyang) was seen heading toward the KIA headquarters in Laiza on the Kachin-China border on Wednesday as well, local news outlets reported.
Col Naw Bu said he was unable to confirm this information, and said the soldiers could have “reached somewhere else” at the time of reporting.
“I think, if that was true [that they were going to Laiza], we’d have received some information from the ground by now, but we haven’t heard anything about them arriving in our territory or anyone spotting them,” he explained.
He added that Tanai Township was the primary location where tension between the military and the KIA was high at the time of reporting.
The KIA attacked a Myanmar military base in Homalin Township in Sagaing Region, after the shadow administration, the National Unity Government, declared war on the junta on Tuesday.
Col Naw Bu confirmed that the Homalin battle took place but that he had not yet received a ground report on the incident.
Battles between the KIA and the military started in northern Shan State after Myanmar’s February 1 coup, and then later spread to Kachin State. The battles have largely been concentrated in Hpakant, Momauk, Dawthponeyan and Waingmaw townships.
