The Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) has opened an immigration office in Nam Hpat Kar village in Kutkai Township in northern Shan State, according to Nam Hpat Kar residents.
The opening ceremony of the immigration office was held at around 8am on 15 June in the KIA-controlled Nam Hpat Kar village in Kutkai Township. Local residents and KIO/KIA officials attended the event, Nam Hpat Kar residents said.
“It is true that they held an opening ceremony. I think immigration officers trained by the KIO will work at the office. Since taking control of Nam Hpat Kar about five months ago, the KIA has started to set up an administration that includes locals. The immigration office existed before,” said a local man.
The KIA opened immigration control offices in its southern region in northern Shan State on 17 June 2022 and issued identification cards to over 3,000 people from the towns of Monekoe and Kutkai towns, according to LAIZA TV, run by the KIA’s information department.
Since the KIA took control of Infantry Battalion 123 of the military junta based in Nam Hpat Kar on 24 January, the area has been administered by an administration involving local ethnic groups, according to locals.
“There has been a civilian administration in Nam Hpat Kar for some time. The KIA only handles security now. The rest of the administration consists entirely of civilians from the local population. There are Lisu, Kachin, Palaung, Shan, Bamar and even Chinese locals involved,” added the man from Nam Hpat Ka.
In addition, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which now has 10 brigades in Kachin State and northern Shan State, held an opening ceremony for its eleventh brigade in Nawng Mun village on 14 June. It was formed from KIA Battalions No. 12 and 27, which include troops from Au Lawng Pa and Shwe Ku areas, LAIZA TV reported on 15 June.
Sent by Shan News.