It has been 10 months since renewed fighting broke out on June 9 of last year after 17 years of ceasefire between Kachin and Burmese governments. Burma’s nominally civilian government was praised for recent by-election results and reforms carried out during a year in power. Governments around the world praise for the reforms took place while ethnic cleansing war has intensified in Kachin.

None of the reforms has actually been effective in Kachinland as government troops increase its presence, horrendous rights violations against civilian population continue, elections are banned in Kachin areas, and no sign of stopping Myitsone dam project.

Fighting has intensified in the past weeks as Burmese Army stepped up its troop presence around Laiza. Local observers suggest that a significant troop surge seems to be an attempt to capture Kachin Administrative Headquarter.

On April 12, a fierce fighting took place between Dinggri and Hka Rum on Kanpaiti road between KIA’s 3rd Battalion and Burmese Army’s infamous 88th LID known among locals for killing, raping, and razing homes.

On April 13, KIA’s 27th Battalion fought against Burmese Army’s 88th LID near Pu Nwi located on the way that leads to Sin Lum. According to frontline source, Burmese Army is continuously shelling KIA’s territory with 81 mm and 120 mm mortars.

In another front, heavy battles have intensified between two sides in KIA’s 5th Brigade territories. A battle took place at Kadaw hill near Myothit on Bamaw road and another at a rice field near Gang Dau Yang between KIA’s 255th Mobile Battalion and Burmese Army’s 3rd Tactical Operations Command.

During this week, Burmese Army has razed homes and pillaged properties belong to local residents in Gang Dau Yang and Dum Hpawng village. Daily accounts of Burmese government Army’s burning villages, raping women, bombing civilian areas, arresting and torturing suspected individuals are hard facts of what is going on in Kachinland.

The reality on the ground indicates the continuing presence of horrendous rights violations perpetrated by the Burmese Army on the civilian population in Kachinland despite the “flickers of progress” and achievement by Burma’s nominally civilian government mentioned in the international media. The Kachin civilian population has often been targeted by the vaunted Burmese Army in retaliation for their impotent campaign to wipe out the KIA and Kachin identity as a whole.