Kachin Army deny government accusations
The Kachin Independence Army denied accusations made in Burma’s state run media that they had been involved in killing civilians.
Lan Nan, a senior spokesperson for the KIA spoke to Karen News.
“All statements made by the [Burma] government are totally false. The real culprit is the Burma Army who shelled from Khaung Phu village on the Irrawaddy River to Tar Law villages on the opposite side of the river.”
Articles in a state run newspaper accused the KIA of killing Daw Than Sint, 52, and wounding six on November 30th at Kyun Pin Thar section, Tar Law Village, Myitkyina township and a 40-year-old man killed on the 29th November.
La Nan also confirmed that the KIA did not targeted civilian areas and said the Burma Army Infantry Battalion 382 and 385, under the Military Operation Command 3, attacked civilians.
“They (Burma Army) fired 88 mm motor on Tar Law village and killed Daw Khin Sint, but they spelt her name wrong, calling her Daw Than Sint – seven villagers were wounded injured. Mortar shells landed directly on Yarma Monastery and two civilian houses.”
La Nan said the Burma Army shelling of civilians happened immediately after 14 of their soldiers killed were killed and another 20 wounded in a KIA ambush on the same day as the attacks on civilians.
A KIA source said the attacks on civilians mean have been revenge for the killing of Burma Army soldiers.
State-run media have made similar accusations against the KIA before claiming that the KIA killed a ninth grade student and a 31-years-old man from Myitkyina.
