Clashes that started on Friday in Muse District between the Burma Army and forces belonging to the Northern Alliance of ethnic armed organizations continued on Monday.
Burmese military columns and combined forces from the Arakan Army (AA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) fought in an area controlled by the KIA’s Battalion 36 in Kyukok sub-township—also known as Pang Hseng.
Local sources said that Monday’s clash happened at the KIA’s Hpun Pyen camp.
“The clash occurred at Hpun Pyen Yang camp at around 1:45 p.m. The Burma Army’s military columns came from Mongli and attacked the KIA camp in Hpun Pyen Yang,” the local told KNG.
An officer from the KIA’s Brigade 6—which includes Battalion 36—said two soldiers from the MNDAA were injured in the fighting, one seriously.
Combined forces from the Burma Army’s Light Infantry Division (LID) 88 and 99 launched clearance operations in Kyukok, where the Northern Alliance is active. Clashes have been occurring since September 11.
The headman of Man Kawng village said that more than 200 people have sought refuge in another village, Man Pying, since the fighting began.
The fighting has been occurring despite a Burma Army ceasefire declaration through September 30, allegedly an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Duwa Lamai Gum Ja, who is working with the Kachin Peace-talk Creation Group, said that even though the Northern Alliance has expressed a desire to resume negotiations around a bilateral ceasefire agreement, the government and military have been in disagreement about how to approach these meetings with ethnic armed organizations.
