Ethnic Armed KIA Seizes Army And Police Posts, Myanmar Military Regime Fires Artillery

JAKARTA - Three civilians were killed in fierce fighting between Myanmar's military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Momauk Township, Kachin State, Monday, April 12.

The victims were an 83-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and a 21-year-old woman from three different villages.

"They clashed all night from 11 p.m yesterday until this morning. Artillery shells fell on the villages and the villagers were killed. Houses and monasteries were attacked. Three people were killed. Two houses were blown up and windows smashed elsewhere," said a resident of Myothit village, visiting The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, April 13.

Artillery shells were fired by Myanmar's military after KIA forces raided police posts and military posts on Sunday night, according to residents.

Two people were killed instantly by artillery fire and the 21-year-old man bled to death on Monday morning. Villagers said fighting was still ongoing as of Monday afternoon.

"KIA occupied a police post on Tarpein bridge. We also raided a military outpost that was building a communications tower. Junta forces provided artillery support for the outposts attacked. Artillery shells landed on the villages. I heard civilians were attacked, but I don't know the details", explained KIA information officer Colonel Naw Bu.

Further explained Colonel Naw Bu, KIA only confiscated ammunition from two outposts and did not try to occupy them permanently. Also, clashes took place near Alaw Hill in Momauk, where the 30th Battalion KIA was stationed.

The armed ethnic battalion seized a hill near the Chinese border from Myanmar's military on March 25. The military has been trying to retake the hill for the past three days.

"They have carried out airstrikes with fighter jets four times this morning. They're still shooting. Far from the village and no civilians there. They fought fiercely. We are trying to maintain control of the hill", colonel Bu said.

Villagers have called on both sides to avoid targeting civilians as well as the homes they live in.

Earlier, KIA decided to take up arms again against Myanmar's military regime, after two years of ceasefire. Tensions escalated after two civilians were shot dead in a crackdown by Myanmar military regime forces on antiquities protesters in Kachin's capital, Myitkyina, on March 8.

Three days after Myitkyina's assassination, KIA raided a military outpost at the jade mining center, Hpakant, and has since carried out a series of attacks on police and military posts in the cities of Waingmaw, Bhamo, Namtu, Hpakant, Mogaung, and Shwegu. In retaliation, the military also attacked the KIA camp with artillery and bombed the 11th and 14th battalions of the KIA on 29 March.

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