Army soldiers continue attacks in Kachin State

06 February 2014: Despite ongoing peace talks and reform processes, Burma Army soldiers continue attacking villagers in Kachin State.

Soldiers from Burma Army battalion 276 fired at villagers and merchants on 30 January 2014, capturing 18 locals from Nam Gau village in Kachin State, according to the Free Burma Rangers.

FBR’s report said: “The fighting intensified on 31 January, with reinforced Burma army troops attacking not only Nam Gau but also Nam San Village, located south of the first attack site. Heavy mortar and machine gun fire hit the village.”

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is defending the village against the fighting in which one KIA soldier has been killed, FBR said.

On 26 January this year, three soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 549, commanded by U Thaung Htut, captured seven Karen villagers in Win Ye Township, Dooplaya District, Karen State, and forcibly seized three cows from them.

According to the FBR, the commander demanded 1,700,000 Kyats from the villagers, and took their cattle as they didn’t have that amount of money.#