originally published June 13, 2011 by The Kachin Post as KIO declares defensive: resume civil war in Northern Burma photographs provided to AKR by the Kachin Independence Organization
Burma’s main ethnic armed group, the Kachin Independence Organization, today ordered its troops in Kachin State and Northern Shan State to stage defensive war against Burma’s Army, warning that the war would be widespread in Burma.
The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) issued a statement to stop Burma Army’s offensive at midnight on Monday, ordering its troops to wage nationwide operation. However, recent offensive by Burma Army indicates that the war would be continued.
The clash between KIO and Burma army sparked a few days ago after Burma Army arrested a KIO liaison officer from Sang Gang based KIO liaison office of in N’mawk Township in Southeastern Kachin. In retaliation, KIO arrested three officers from Burma Army.
According to KIO, more than a dozen soldiers died and over a hundred casualties from Burma Army during three days of skirmishes between KIO’s battalion 15 & 25 under the Brigade 3 and more than 500 Burma Army soldiers. The battle ground is the area nearby two hydro-power project being constructed by China’s Datang Corporation on Taping River, closed to China-Burma border.
Recently, soldiers from KIO retreat from Bum Sen stronghold as Burma Army rained more than a thousand motor shells. At least two thousand civilians nearby battleground are reportedly fled to China.
KIO said four other ethnic armies would join the war against Burma Army.
Burma Army unilaterally breached the cease fire agreement between KIO. The agreement signed in 1994. KIO is one of the major ethnic armed organizations in Burma, striving independence Kachin Land.
