Ministry denies military build-up
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Govt responds to rumours of planned push in Kachin, Shan states
The Defence Ministry has denied allegations that the Army was speeding up its military operations in Kachin and Shan states from the end of February, Lt-General Myint Soe told reporters in the Chinese border town of Ruili yesterday.
“It has been known to all that this is not true. The troops are doing their regular tasks, especially in terms of troop withdrawal and arrival of new ones. Though some are talking about this on Facebook, we have been keeping our promise,” Lt-General Myint Soe told the Eleven Media Group.
Northern Command commander Brig-General Tun Tun Naung, who oversees military duties in Kachin State, also denied the extension of military activities there.
“We have not expanded our activities there. I don’t know where this report came from. At present, there are some troops movements. We have sent food supplies there as old troops are pulling out and new troops are going in. This is only an allegation coming from a source we don’t know,” he said.
As for the use of military aircraft over Panwa and Chibwe regions in recent days, Myint Soe said matriculation exam papers were airlifted there.
However, Kachin Independence Army’s Maj-General Gwan Maw said it was difficult to make any comments yet because the government is insisting it is only sending food supplies.
“We find it difficult to comment about military activities there, because there is a movement of troops. They might be either expanding deployment or sending supplies. We cannot say exactly,” Gwan Maw said.
No armed clashes have been reported in Kachin state since the February 4 peace talks.
