Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Seven Burmese soldiers including a captain in Infantry Unit No. 21 under the Northern Command have been captured by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).
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The KIO displays weapons and ammunition captured from Burmese government troops during the past two days of fighting. Photo: Citizen Journalist
Fighting between Infantry No. 21 and KIO Battalion No. 18 and No. 23 took place along the Myitkyina-Bhamo Road at Khaya village in Waimaw Township on Saturday and Sunday. Ten Burmese soldiers were killed and the seven soldiers were captured, according to the KIO.
The seven captives were identified as Captain Tun Tun Min, Lieutenant Zaw Ye Tun, Sergeant Tin Tun, Corporal Thein Naing Oo, Lance Corporal Naing Lin Tun, Private Myo Min Soe and Private Nay Naing. Two were injured and are receiving medical treatment, according to KIO Joint Secretary La Nang.
“They were captured in the fighting in Khaya village. Some government soldiers fled. More than 10 government soldiers were killed,” said La Nang. “In accordance with the captives’ desire, we will let them return later. We will follow international rules and procedures. We will not harm them.” Among the dead was Captain Aung Khine Win, said the KIO.
The injured captives, Lance Corporal Naing Lin Tun and Sergeant Tin Tun, are receiving treatment in Laiza Hospital, said La Nang, who said the captives would be interrogated and later returned to their units.
The KIO reportedly seize two 60-mm weapons, two MG 42 machine guns, one MA4 rocket launcher, three MA3, five MA1, nine rocket propelled grenades, four 9-mm pistols, nine landmines, seven limpet mines, seven 79-mm grenades and various ammunition.
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Ammunition captured by KIO troops. Photo: Citizen Journalist
Meanwhile, fighting between the government Light Infantry Unit No. 348 and KIO Battalion 12 under Brigade 3 broke out on Monday and Tuesday. Burmese Captain Thein Zaw Htwe and three soldiers were killed in the fighting, La Nang said. He said one KIO soldier from Battalion No. 12 was killed on Monday.
He said the Burmese government’s Light Infantry Unit No. 348 was reinforced with troops from Infantry No. 74.
Fighting began more than one month ago, displacing many Kachin villagers. The union government has told local nongovernmental organizations not to help the war refugees, according to La Nang.
Food and medicine are urgently needed for children who are refugees, he said.
Similarly, a statement released by the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) on Tuesday said that more than 16,000 refugees have left their homes and food and medicine are needed.
“We have many problems. We urgently need tarpaulin to built tents and we need rice. We have run out of food. Despite the help provided by local organizations and religious organizations, it is not enough,” Shirley Seng, the KWAT spokeswoman, told Mizzima.
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