The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has denied a statement by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) accusing it of digging a trench and placing sharp iron objects on the public road in Namtu Township, Shan State.
The TNLA’s information department claimed in a statement on 10 June that the KIA not only dug a trench across the road on 7 June, but also placed sharp iron objects on the road between Mongbaw and Auilau villages in Namtu Township.
In response, KIO/KIA spokesman Col. Naw Bu denied that the KIA had dug the trench on the road used by the civilian population, but had merely cut off the section of road used to transport ore.
“I asked the relevant officials about this matter. They said they didn’t block any road used by the public. They also didn’t place any objects that could damage car tires. They said they only did this on the ore mining area there,” said Col. Naw Bu.
There have been disputes between the TNLA and the KIA over mining interests in Namtu township. The KIA had only blocked the section of road used by the TNLA to transport the ore mined by the KIA, but not the road actually used by the people, the KIO/KIA spokesman added.
“The KIO/KIA has been mining these ore deposits for many years, leaving behind large stockpiles that could not be transported. The TNLA took them away, they say. So they have blocked the vehicle route on that side. But we didn’t do anything on the actual road section used by the public,” said Col. Naw Bu.
However, a statement issued by the TNLA on 10 June said the KIA had blocked sections of the public road along the Myanmar-China oil pipeline in Namtu Township, which is an important trade route for locals between Namtu, Mongbaw, Mongwee and Namhkam.
The statement also mentions that the KIA is unnecessarily interrogating civilians passing through the Mongbaw area where the KIA is present.
“The KIA does this intentionally and blocks roads to restrict the movement of the local population. The KIA is cutting off the roads and placing pointed iron rods on the roads to obstruct travel and the movement of locals,” said the TNLA information officer.
In addition, there have been frictions between low-level troops of the KIA and TNLA in Mangton, Namtu, and Kutkai Townships. The disputes between the two armed groups have reached a level that is difficult to contain, prompting the TNLA to send a complaint letter to the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) on 31 May, requesting mediation.
The letter to the FPNCC also mentioned that in the Baw Ho Kyan mining area between Mongbaw and Auilau villages on the Mangton-Namtu border, the KIA has recently obstructed the TNLA in its activities and management of mining in various ways.
“Our information department hasn’t received any information about this letter. We have also not received any instruction from the above leaders. So we don’t know if the FPNCC leader hasn’t coordinated or notified about this. However, we are aware of the letter. But so far we haven’t received any notification or instruction,” said KIA spokesperson Col. Naw Bu.
Also in April, a TNLA administrative team instructed KIA soldiers at its liaison office in Kutkai to leave. However, the dispute, which reportedly involved low-ranking soldiers, was settled after officials from both sides intervened.
Sent by Shan News.