Four Days Of War, Armed Ethnic (KIA) Defeat All Battalions Of Myanmar Military Regime In Kachin

JAKARTA - The Myanmar military failed again while trying to seize the strategic Alaw Bum Hill, on the Myanmar border with China. The entire battalion that was dispatched during the last four days, was successfully repelled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the ethnic armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

As reported by Myanmar Now from local media, the entire battalion sent by the Myanmar military regime was defeated by KIA in Momauk City, Kachin State.

The Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 320, which was sent by the Myanmar military regime to reclaim the strategic hill of Alaw Bum, has been involved in fierce fighting since April 11. More than 100 members of this battalion were killed and 38 people were arrested.

"It has been reported that there have been many deaths from the (Myanmar) military. I think the entire battalion is missing. There are only two or three people left," KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told the Kachin Waves newsgroup.

The Myanmar military regime responded to the defeat of LIB 320 by sending a number of other battalions. Local observers said the Myanmar military regime sent troops from the 77th and 88th Light Infantry Divisions.

Hundreds of ground troops and at least two fighter jets have been deployed in the regime's offensive on the base, which is located about 30 kilometers south of the KIA headquarters in Laiza, on the Kachin-China border.

The ethnic armed KIA succeeded in seizing Alaw Bum hill on March 25. Since April 11, the Myanmar military regime has continued to carry out the ground and air attacks to reclaim the hill.

On April 12, battalion 387 sent by the Myanmar military regime suffered a crushing blow, when their battalion commander was killed in battle with KIA. Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning, KIA's 29th and 19th battalions, which carried out the operation, managed to kill 17 Myanmar soldiers.

The retaliation against the Myanmar military regime which sent two fighter jets to carry out airstrikes in the Kachin region has also not produced results. Until Wednesday evening, Alaw Bum remained under the control of KIA.

On Thursday, the Myanmar military regime carried out an artillery attack on KIA troop positions on the Myanmar-China border after a truck carrying troops and logistics to Alaw Bum was intercepted by KIA.

The Myanmar military also chooses to transport its troops using civilian flights. About 800 soldiers were transported by civilian aircraft on April 14.

There has been no confirmation of the number of deaths and casualties from the KIA side yet. The Myanmar military regime has also not issued a report regarding the fighting with KIA.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.