Govt troops/KIA resume battles in Kachin
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Government troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have resumed battles, reportedly over timber smuggling, in Mansi Township of Kachin State, some 15 days after clashes first erupted.
The fighting took place in the villages of Nantlinpar and Moetainpar in northern Myanmar, local residents say.
"A battle occurred (Wednesday) from 1pm to 5pm. (Thursday) they started shooting at around 7am," an unidentified resident of nearby Mongkond village said. "It's near Nantlinpar. Villagers fled from the village last year, and no villagers live there anymore. But there are timber industries there."
The Myitkyina-based Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG) says it informed the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC) about the clashes. MPC is an organisation dedicated to facilitating peace-building and ceasefire negotiations.
"A fighter came shooting at around 12pm today between Nantlinpar and Moetainpar," said Lamai Gum Jar from PCG. "The army says the confrontation was sparked by the arrest of timber smugglers.
"Currently, there is mounting tension in this region. KIA's conflict-resolution team informed the Northern Command about the clashes."
Earlier this year, authorities arrested 149 gang members and seized more than 400 vehicles from a Chinese timber smuggling gang operating in Kachin, but failed to arrest its leaders. Those arrested are jailed at Myitkyina prison, and legal proceedings are still ongoing.
The military's Northern Command did not comment although contacted several times. Spokespeople from the Laiza-based Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO - the political wing of the KIA) were also not available for comment.
"I am on a trip for peace talks. I have no idea about the clashes. You can contact the spokesman from KIO's headquarters," KIA General Gun Maw said.
Fighting raged for nearly a month in 2013 between the government army and the KIA over timber smuggling, and the government later seized more than 4,000 tonnes of timber. The seized timber was taken from Kachin State and northern Shan State.
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