Clashes in Kachin state force 13,000 out of their homes
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Ongoing armed clashes between government troops and forces from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) since late October has left more than 13,000 residents homeless, the Kachin Peace Network (KPN) said.
There have been several clashes in the Mansi Township of Kachin State, forcing people from 13 villages to flee.
The KPN, along with a public organisation based in Kachin, held a press conference in Yangon yesterday to inform the public about the armed clashes.
“We cannot say how many clashes broke out as they are still ongoing. It is estimated that more than 13,000 locals have fled their homes since late October, though some were expected to return later,” Khum Gyar, a member of KPN, said.
According to the government, these clashes were sparked after government troops chased illegal timber cutters out of the area. However, KPN said there was no timber to cut in Mansi, while Khum Gyar added that the clashes had broken out along the rail route connecting China with the Mandalay-Bhamo railway.
After a 17-year-long ceasefire between the government and the KIA, fighting resumed in June.
A report issued this year by the Myanmar Peace Monitor said more than 100,000 people had fled their homes and that new refugee camps had popped un in Kachin due to armed clashes between government troops and KIA in 2011 and 2012.
The clashes have also forced the setting up of refugee camps in government-controlled towns such as Myitkyina and Waingmaw.
