February 25th, 2022
The successive military regimes have been using the military strategies which create fighting among ethnics till date, said Col Naw Bu, the spokesperson of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).
“The Tangutan people’s militia force is in Putao. As all we know, this is the military’s strategy of sending the local people’s militia force to the frontline and using them as guides when there is intense fighting. The junta also creates fighting between Kachin races. The people’s militia force and the Tatmadaw are stationed there,” Col Naw Bu says.
Since February 1st, fighting intensifies between the military council troops and a combined force of the KIA and the People’s Defence Force (PDF), in Putao Township.
Currently, there is intense fighting in Swanpiyan, Lonesharyan, Tanjar, Insiyan and Phatmar villages and Shin Kat (Taung) Bawan, the KIO says.
“Tangutan people’s militia force is mainly active here. There may be other forces. Many people may attend the military training course. But in practice, the number of trainees may be hundreds. As I said before, sending resident people’s militia forces to the frontline is the Tatmadaw’s strategy.
Since February 1st, the military council has been attacking a combined force of the KIA and the PDF in Putao Township, in cooperation with the Rawang People’s Militia Force led by Tangutan (aka) Adan, which is active in Putao District, locals from Putao and the KIO say.
“The villagers who are members of the Baptist Society are taking shelter at the houses of their relatives in Loneswat from Putao due to the ongoing fighting in the village. Janephaw and Lisu races are living in the villages where the fighting is taking place. Fighting erupted at Swanpiyan strategic hill where the people’s militia forces and the military are stationed. Until now, fighting continued. The military conducts airstrikes there frequently. The people are worrying about the big fighting as the military has deployed troops,” a local man said.
The military council troops are carrying out ground and aerial attacks in Putao Township. In recent days, the military council is constantly deploying troops in Putao Township, according to locals.
“There has been frequent fighting in Putao since early February. At present, there is persistent fighting near Shinkatbwan camp near Hoswanpiyan. It has been three days. But fighting is not intense. Fighting erupted as a combined force of the KIO/KIA and the PDF ambushed the military’s logistics channels,” Col Naw Bu adds.
In May, 2021 after the military coup, the military-backed Rawang People’s Militia Force (Tangutan) organized locals in the villages of Putao District in northern Myanmar, to undergo basic military training.
The people’s militia force organizes the locals to undergo military training as the KIA and the PDF carry out attacks in Putao, Naungmon and Khaunglanphu Townships.
Sent by the NMG.