A local resident told KLN that Burmese army’s artillery units stationed near Laja-yang have been shelling on areas close to Laiza. Burmese army has begun shelling on KIA positions beginning 4:30 am till noon, six hours after government’s stated hour to halt attack at 6 am on Jan 19. Fighting between Burmese army infantry units and a combined force of KIA and ABSDF troops continue unabated in areas between Laja-yang and Laiza as of 1 pm on Jan 19.

Burmese government on Friday released a statement hours after parliament called for an end to the fighting, saying it would stop the offensive attacks at 06:00 am on Saturday (23:30 GMT Friday).

Burmese army’s bombardments have also reported in Lagat hill and Jan Mai hill near Maija-yang, KIO’s second largest city on Jan 19. A Maija-yang resident says, “we can even feel the vibration and hear loud noises as bombings are so close to residential area”.

On Jan 18, Burmese army’s artillery units currently stationed at Manmau hill, Lung Rawk hill and Bumre hill fired several rounds of 105 mm mortar shells on KIA positions in Laja-yang area.

Fierce battles took place near Hkaya hill as the two sides fought for the control of the stategic hill on Jan 18. Two government’s fighter jets came to aid ground troops at around 4:40 pm and fired rockets and dropped bombs on KIA positions for at least six rounds, said a frontline source.

Burmese President U Thein Sein in the past made orders to halt all offenses on December 10, 2011 and January 13, 2012, and later reconfirmed his orders while at the United Nations in September, 2012. However, Burmese army’s operations on the ground have actually escalated since U Thein ordered the army to halt offensive operations in Kachin region.