Ethnic Armed KIA Attacked The Tank Convoy Of Myanmar Military Regime

KIA armed ethnic soldiers. (Twitter/@KachinNewsGroup)

JAKARTA - The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is back to the trouble of the Myanmar army regime. This time it was the turn of the tank truck convoy to be attacked with artillery, as it was carrying fuel for fighter jets belonging to the regime air force.

A total of seven tank trucks were attacked on the Union Highway and Kutkai-Hseni Road, Shan State, for transporting fuel from China via Muse.

KIA information officer Colonel Naw Bu said the armed group attacked five tank trucks on the Union Highway. Meanwhile, the other two attacks were on Jalan Kutkai-Hseni. The attacks were carried out last Monday and Tuesday.

"People told us that the fuel was not for public use but for the military council, so we opened fire," Colonel Naw Bu said, as reported by The Irrawaddy, Wednesday, May 19.

"There has been no fighting with the military in northern Shan State, apart from these attacks," he continued.

The Myanmar military regime uses fighter jets to regain control of the strategic base on Alaw Bum Hill, Momauk City, Kachin State bordering China.

The outpost allows KIA to control the road between the capitals of Kachin State, Myitkyina, and Bhamo, as well as in Kachin State.

The armed group also attacked Myitkyina airbase and Bhamo Airport with artillery, reportedly forcing the Myanmar Air Force to fly from Lashio, Mandalay and Meiktila in Mandalay Region's Shan State to attack Momauk.

KIA has reason to believe that the tanker provided jet fuel to bomb Momauk, said Colonel Naw Bu.

"They attacked with two fighter jets yesterday at Momauk," he said.

The Myanmar military regime has not commented on the attack and it is not yet known the fate of the drivers of the seven tank trucks.

“What we know is that two tankers, one today and one yesterday, caught fire between Kutkai and Hseni. We did not come out when we heard gunfire, "said one resident.

To note, National Energy Puma Aviation Services Co Ltd, a joint venture between Singapore-based Puma Energy Co and the state-owned Myanmar Petrochemical Company, is the main supplier of aviation fuel in Myanmar. However, Puma Energy suspended imports after a military coup in February, disrupting supplies.

Since then, the Myanmar military regime has reportedly chosen to import aviation fuel, primarily for the Air Force from China.

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