Despite its ceasefire announcement, the military junta continues to carry out airstrikes and offensive operations in some townships of Kachin State, said the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has said.
According to KIO Spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu, from 2-3 April—following the announcement of the temporary ceasefire— the junta conducted multiple airstrikes and bombings in Bhamo, Indaw, and Waingmaw Townships.
“This morning (3 April) around 6:30am, they launched an airstrike in Indaw, where fighting is ongoing. In Bhamo, they were bombing until last night, and this morning they struck again. After that, in Waingmaw’s La Myan area, they launched a ground offensive, so defensive clashes are taking place,” he said.
The junta had announced on 2 April that it would halt fighting for 20 days, from 2-22 April, to facilitate post-earthquake relief efforts, designating this period as a temporary ceasefire.
On the other hand, in response to the junta’s statement, the KIO/KIA also declared on 2 April that it would suspend offensive operations for the same 20-day period.
However, the junta’s announcement included a clause in paragraph (4) stating that it would counterattack if faced with “unacceptable military violations.” Yet, it is evident that the junta forces themselves are currently breaching the ceasefire.
Regarding the military council’s failure to adhere to its own ceasefire declaration, Colonel Naw Bu remarked: “The ceasefire wasn’t something the KIO/KIA announced first. It was the junta that made the initial statement, and we responded by agreeing to halt fighting temporarily for the period they specified. But since they’re continuing to attack, we have no choice but to fire back. The KIA isn’t launching offensives; we’re only responding because they’re advancing on us.”
The KIO/KIA’s statement emphasized: “The contents of paragraph (4) in the Defense Services Commander-in-Chief’s Office announcement must be adhered to not only by ethnic resistance organizations and other resistance forces but also by the Myanmar military itself.”
Just one day after the junta’s ceasefire announcement, its forces launched an offensive in Waingmaw Township, firing heavy weapons. As a result, KIO Vice-Chairman Lieutenant General Gun Maw noted on his social media page that the fighting has not stopped.
Sent by KNG.