Kachin battle intensifies despite calls from international community and ethnic groups and organizations to stop war and violence against civilians. A number of heavy battles have taken place at Hkaya hill, Pangwa, Phakant, Maija-yang and in northern Shan state in recent days.

A Laiza resident says that they are living under fear as Burmese army’s infantry units have been getting closer and closer to the KIO administrative capital Laiza in recent days. She said, “We hear that Burmese soldiers have passed Laja-yang area and now there are fierce battles engaged between KIA and Burmese army near Lawa-yang, located near Laiza.” KIA troops under 5th Brigade and an unknown Burmese army unit have been fighting since 4 am on Jan 18 and the battle is still going on. Local civilians say they can even hear the sounds of gun shots and artillery fires from their homes in Laiza.

On Jan 17, KIA’s 23rd Battalion under 5th Brigade fought against a combined force of Burmese army’s infantry units from 10 mobile battalions and other light infantry units at Hkaya hill, a strategic hill near Laiza. Two government’s fighter jets dropped bombs on KIA positions at Hkaya hill for half an hour beginning 4:15 pm. Two other fighter jets again fired on KIA positions at 4:45 pm, said a local source.

Burmese army has continuously re-enforced its frontline units and transported military equipment to area close to Laiza town. Burmese army’s helicopters transported 105mm hotwizer mortars from their base in Hkangkai hill to Manmau hill where government troops currently occupied beginning 2 pm on Jan 17. A frontline source said more infantry units stationed at a local Chinese man Lau Ying’s banana field  have moved to areas close to Laiza.