Early July Clash Account Summary: Kachin State and Northern Shan State

30 July 2018

Kachin State and Northern Shan State

July 1-16 Total Military Actions

Total: 18 clashes – 9 troop-on-troop and 9 one-sided attacks

Danai – 4 clashes, 2 attacks

Hpakant – 3 clashes, 2 attacks   

Muse – 1 clash, 1 attack        

Waingmaw – 2 attacks

Manton – 1 clash      

Lashio – 1 attack

Namkham – 1 attack

Hostilities in Kachin State and northern Shan State remain almost a daily occurrence. Compared to the first two weeks of June which had five clashes and 12 attacks, July has had nine clashes and nine attacks. Most clashes have occurred in Danai and Hpakant townships. Heavy rains have reduced the number of clashes in the region, yet civilians and combatants still suffer from continued Burma Army advances.

Clashes continue between the KIA and Burma Army in Danai and Hpakant Townships

Throughout the first half of July there were six military actions in Danai Township. Nawng Nyang and Zup Mai villages, approximately 15 kilometers east of Danai Town and the Myitkyina – Danai highway, as well as Nam Hkam Village, approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Danai Town, were the areas of contention. Over 2000 people were displaced east of Danai in April, some of which only recently emerged from hiding in the jungle.

Over the 14th, 15th and 16th of July, there was heavy fighting in Hpakant Township in the region west of Kamaing Town.

The biggest battle occurred throughout the day of July 14th when KIA soldiers from Bum Chyang Post defended against approximately 100 Burma Army soldiers from Ja Ra Yang Base. At 1630 Burma Army forces fired four mortar rounds toward Bum Chyang from Ja Ra Yang.

At 1800 on the 15th, another clash occurred when KIA soldiers saw BA forces advancing toward Je Bu Hku, above Kamaing Loi Seng Village.

*EDIT (added on August 8) – On 11 July at 0115 Burma Army troops stepped on a KIA landmine as the soldiers advanced toward a KIA outpost at Mazup Yang, near Lai Nawng Hku Village in Hpakant Township.  The Burma Army soldiers fired small arms and mortar rounds at the post following the explosion.

Bawmwang Village attacked in May with Burma Army “Cluster Bombs” according to KIA

On May 12, at 1130, Bawmwang Village in Sumpra Bum Township was attacked by two Burma Army K-8 jets. The two planes had just attacked the KIA 1st Brigade Headquarters before they flew over Bawmwang Village.

During the attack, seven bombs were dropped, but only four detonated.  The KIA claim the munitions dropped were cluster bombs.

Luckily, no one was injured in the attack, however the Kachin Baptist Mission School in the village was damaged, and the villagers had three unexploded bombs to dispose of.

Locations of the three unexploded bombs:

• 11 meters from the female student boarding house

• 6 meters from the boarding house kitchen

• In the students-raised pig pen

Locations of the four exploded bombs:

• 14 meters from the principal’s house

• Between the boarding house kitchen and the road

• 15 meters from the boarding house kitchen

• On the road close to the village cemetery

The recovered munitions show two types of bombs were used in the attack. A larger one which is 27 inches in length and 21 inches in circumference, and a smaller one which is 16 inches in length and 11 inches in circumference.