Ethnic minority Kachin insurgents have captured a junta army camp similar the order capital of Myitkyina, in northern Myanmar, which has additionally given them regulate of a prime business path to the border with China, a spokesman for the riot workforce advised Radio Independent Asia on Wednesday.
The Kachin Self government Military is one among Myanmar’s maximum tough rebel forces and has made positive factors in fresh weeks with the seize of 8 cities in Kachin Environment and northerly Shan Environment, in addition to about 100 junta army camps, it says.
On Tuesday night, Kachin warring parties took regulate of a junta infantry battalion bottom in Waingmaw township, about 20 km (12 miles) to the south of the Myitkyina, mentioned Col. Naw Bu, the Kachin Self government Military’s data officer.
“That camp was providing security for the villages such as Aung Myay 1 and 2, as well as Waingmaw town. So it can be said to be strategically important,” he mentioned.
The territorial achieve has additionally given the Kachin pressure regulate of a prime street going south, together with to the border with China, which is ready 40 km (25 miles) to the east.
“There are no military camps on the other side of the Waingmaw-Laizar-Momauk-Lwegel road. We are stationed here, but we are not allowing cars or others to travel yet due to security reasons,” Naw Bu mentioned. Lwegel is a prime crossing for business at the border with China.
The junta has additionally now not issued any statements at the combating. RFA attempted to phone Kachin Environment’s junta spokesperson, Moe Min Thein, to invite in regards to the status however he didn’t resolution.
The Kachin pressure is one a number of that experience made vital positive factors not too long ago towards forces of the junta that overthrew an elected executive in early 2021 triggering bloody opposition to army rule.
Professional-democracy warring parties have taken up hands and related up with ethnic minority armies, just like the Kachin, that have been struggling with for self-determination for many years in hilly border areas.
Past the combatants of army rule have captured various junta bases, cities and villages, in combating that escalated sharply past due extreme era, none has seized a order capital.
Naw Bu declined to touch upon casualties on both sides within the untouched combating, or on if any guns and ammunition were captured. Ethnic minority Lisu warring parties dependable to the junta regulate two camps in Waingmaw the town presen a junta infantry battalion holds some other place there, he mentioned.
Civilian Deaths
Responding to the Kachin offensive, junta forces bombed Hkat Shu village in southern Waingmaw township on Monday and Tuesday, killing six citizens, together with youngsters, and wounding 19, in keeping with citizens.
A seriously wounded lady used to be taken to health facility in Myitkyina presen the remainder of the injured have been getting remedy at Waingmaw’s health facility, one resident, who declined to be recognized, advised RFA.
The junta-backed Myanma Alin newspaper mentioned on Wednesday that the army regime used to be now not liable for the assaults on Hkat Shu village.
About part of Hkat Shu’s community of 10,000 have fled on account of the combating, citizens mentioned.
In step with knowledge compiled by way of RFA, most commonly from accounts from citizens and the insurgents, just about 80 civilians have been killed in Kachin Environment because of the junta airstrikes and large guns between Jan. 1 and Would possibly 21.
Translated by way of RFA Burmese. Edited by way of Kiana Duncan and Taejun Kang.
