(Reuters) – Forces of the Kachin Independence Military (KIA), one of many ethnic factions against Myanmar’s coup, attacked navy positions on the northwestern jade mining city of Hkamti on Saturday, native media reported.
The assault marks an advance into new territory by the KIA at a time Myanmar has been plunged into chaos for the reason that military seized energy on Feb. 1, detained elected chief Aung San Suu Kyi and minimize quick a decade of democratic reforms.
KIA fighters attacked a military put up at Hkamti township within the Sagaing area early on Saturday, the Irrawaddy and Mizzima on-line publications stated. Footage confirmed columns of darkish smoke rising from what they stated was the scene of the assault.
KIA spokesman Naw Bu advised Reuters he was conscious of the assault however might give no particulars. Reuters was unable to succeed in a junta spokesman for touch upon the experiences.
“The preventing remains to be ongoing. I can nonetheless hear the gunshots,” Mizzima quoted one resident as saying.
It stated the positioning attacked was close to a mining enterprise that includes the military-owned Myanma Financial Holdings Ltd. conglomerate.
Reuters was unable to verify the experiences independently.
Because the coup, open battle resumed between the military and the KIA, which has been preventing for better autonomy for the Kachin folks for some six a long time and has voiced assist for anti-junta protesters.
Mizzima stated the military was utilizing jets in assaults on the KIA at Hkamti, a city on the Chindwin river in a distant area wealthy in jade and gold that lies about 50 km (30 miles) from the border with India.
The military has carried out quite a few bombing assaults on KIA positions in current weeks and has additionally clashed with ethnic armies within the east and west of Myanmar.
Safety forces have killed a minimum of 812 folks for the reason that coup, in response to the Help Affiliation for Political Prisoners activist group. The navy disputes this determine and says a minimum of two dozen members of the safety forces have additionally been killed.
The military seized energy alleging fraud in a November election gained by Suu Kyi’s Nationwide League for Democracy. The then electoral fee had rejected its accusations. On Friday, native media quoted an official of the brand new electoral fee appointed by the junta as saying there was a plan to dissolve the NLD.
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