Civilians have fled their homes fearing the military will burn down their village in Putao Township, Kachin State, after fighting broke out with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
The last time the Burma Army (BA) clashed with the KIA near Tan Ja village in June, many of its soldiers died. The military warned the village chief that they would torch all 100 houses in the village if fighting broke out in the area again.
Over 400 people sought refuge from the 30-minute clash on Thursday evening, August 26, at the church or relatives’ homes in Lung Sha Yang village.
”Some people fled on their motorbikes while other villagers were picked up by officials from Lung Sha Yang Church,” a Tan Ja resident told KNG.
The military maintains a heavy presence in the Lung Sha Yang village tract. Since the February 1 coup, the KIA has ambushed its troops on numerous occasions. Between April and August, the armed groups fought at least five times.
