Laiza, 5 November
The military council adversely affected by Operation 1027, which has received widespread public support, has threatened to retaliate against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
The military council issued a statement on November 4 that the KIA has not joined the peace efforts being made by the military, as reported by the state-run newspaper and Telegram channels, which are used as propaganda platform.
During the ongoing peace talks, the army repeatedly warned them not to attack army camps, but the KIA used massive force to attack the army’s platoon-level small camps.
The military council said that although the KIA was informed not to take part in the current fighting in North Shan, the KIA ignored the army’s warning.
According to U Than Soe Naing, a military and political analyst, “the military council tried to defeat the KIA with the view that the KIA would be the one who organized and guided the AA and TNLA’s growing strength.”
The junta army suffers defeat not only in the northern part of Shan State but also in Karen, Sagaing, and other regions as a result of Operation 1027 of the Brotherhood Alliance, which has the support of the anti-regime people and revolutionary forces.
As of November 3, KIA-led allied forces have occupied 18 regime outposts and police stations in Sagaing, said Dr. Tu Hkawng, Union Minister for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and NUG’s Minister of Environmental Protection, through his social media.
Since early July before Operation 1027, tension remains high between the KIA and the junta army as regime forces conducted military activities in Nam Sang Yang on Myitkyina – Bahmo highway.
According to the military council, the KIA had built munitions factories and used self-produced weapons and munitions while supplying domestic terrorist groups. Therefore, the military council has officially announced that if the KIA attacks its security posts again, it will take the necessary retaliatory measures.
CDM Captain Zay Thu Aung from the Air Force stated, “If the army destroys Laiza, the KIA’s weapons and ammunition will be destroyed, and the military council thinks that the support to the AA and PDF will be cut off, so they may attack the KIA.”
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing also announced on November 2 that he would retaliate against the attacks by the MNDAA, TNLA, and KIA in the Northern Shan and Kachin States, omitting the AA.
On the other hand, the military council has accused the KIA of being involved in Operation 1027, which occupied nearly 100 military bases in northern Shan and four towns.
The junta also claimed that KIA had blown up and destroyed at least eight roads and bridges in Kachin State between 2021 and 2023, as well as ambushed security forces.
Than Lwin Times tried to reach KIA spokesperson, Colonel Nor Bu, by phone at least five times to comment on the junta’s accusations and response, but he did not respond.
Residents say that the military council has destroyed roads and bridges used by the public in areas where the fighting has taken place to prevent military action in the event of an attack by armed resistance groups.
News – Than Lwin Times
Photo – KIA
Thanlwintimes