February 14th, 2022
The military council has directed the Kawnglanghpu People’s Militia Force to reinforce their troops in Putao and Machanbaw areas where the military tension between the military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) remains high.
A local from Putao told the KNG: “Foxholes have been dug in some villages of Mularshide. It is certain that the people’s militia forces are heading to Putao as there is a small number of soldiers in Putao. There are a lot of the people’s militia members in Kawnglanphu”
In the previous days, the military deployed the ex-old soldiers at the inspection gates in Putao. Since yesterday, the members of the People’s Militia Force have been deployed at the gates.
During this week, the Tactical Operations Commander from Putao has directed Kawnglanphu people’s militia force to swiftly reinforce its members in Putao and Machanbaw, said a Rawan ethnic man who is close to the people’s militia force.
“A combined force of the KIA’s Battalion-7 and the People’s Defence Force (PDF) has controlled the Myitkyina-Putao road section. There is a military tension near Lonesharyan and Phatmar villages as the Puta-based Battalion-46 of the military council has increased deployments of troops to Phatmar village. The people’s militia force has stopped some of their businesses as they face a shortage of fuel to be used in gold mining and construction sites in its controlled areas,” a local from Putao said.
A Rawan man who declined to be named said the people’s militia force asked for the permission from the KIA to carry fuel. But its attempt has failed.
The military council bombarded Swanpiyan village on February 3rd after a combined force of the KIA and the PDF seized the military outposts in Swanpiyan and Lonesharyan villages in Putao Township on February 1st.
The military tension remains high after the fighting near Lonesharyan village on February 7th. Some locals are hiding in safer places.
Sent by the KNG.