Fierce battles for the control of Hkaya Bum, a stratetic hill located between Laja-yang and Laiza, raged  as Burmese army’s offensive operations continue. Burmese army infantry units made several unsuccessful attempts to capture KIA’s Hkaya post in the past days after President Thein Sein declared unilateral ceasefire in Laja-yang area. Burmese troops under 88^th LID and 130^th LIB  who are currently stationed at former KIA’s 5^th Brigade’s Bumre, Tibet, and Wai Maw post fired with artillery shells for 130 times on Hkaya Bum, reported a front-line source.

KIA padang sector troops fought against an unknown Burmese army infantry unit near border post no. 6 located in Pangwa area on Jan 23 at 9:40 am. A local source says 2 helicopters transported combat troops and military equipments to Lupi, near Pangwa.  

On Jan 22, a battle took place between KIA’s 27^th Battalion under 3^rd Brigade and Burmese army’s 68^th LIR between Man Yeng and Kawng Hka village at 4:30 pm. Another battle took place at Zin Lum Kaji Hkyet between KIA’s 21^st Battalion and an unknown Burmese army infantry unit on Jan 22 at 2 pm.  

In northern Shan state front, a series of battles took place between KIA’s 34^th Battalion under 4^th Brigade and Burmese army’s 130^th LIR at Pan Sau village located between Man Tong and Namtu town on Jan 22.  

KIA’s 8^th Battalion under 4^th Brigade fought an unknown Burmese army unit at Na- Un village on Jan 22 at 8 am.

Heavy battles rage for the whole day between KIA’s 6^th Battalion under 2^nd Brigade and Burmese army at Gwi Hka and Maw Galung in Hpakant township on Jan 23. “more and more infantry units have arrived in Hpakant area as fighting escalated in recent days. Some government troops from northen Shan state have been transported to Hpakant area” said a local resident.