fighting

Ongoing Burma Army offensives in Shan and Kachin State are blocking key armed groups from signing a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, the community based organisation, the Women’s League of Burma warned. The NCA is set to be signed on October 15, but only eight armed groups have decided to sign it. “We do not trust Naypyidaw’s [government’s] peace process. It’s clearly…

Fighting between soldiers from the government’s militia, the Border Guard Force and a splinter group of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army occurred yesterday at around 10am and continue into today on the old Kawkareik-Myawaddy Road. A BGF officer confirmed the firefight between soldiers from the BGF’s Battalion 1017 and the DKBA’s splinter group led by Bo Nar Ma Kyar [Lieutenant…

A statement released by the United Nationalities Federal Council has warned that ongoing conflict in Burma’s Kachin and Shan States is blocking negotiations for a nationwide ceasefire agreement. The UNFC noted that it had held at least 27 meetings with the Burma Government over the last two years to set a framework national agreement, without success. “UNFC sees that in…

A Burma Army attack on a village in Southern Shan State, that left two villagers dead was tantamount to a war crime, a human rights organisation claims. The attack occurred on September 12, when about 100 Burma Army soldiers attacked Nawng Pa Deb village. The Shan Human Rights Foundation, a human rights advocacy organisation based in Thailand, said that the…

Fighting in early July 2015 between soldiers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and government troops along the Asia Highway, not only forced villagers from their homes, but caused them to lose most of their household belongings and food supplies when fleeing the conflict. Control of the newly built Asia Highway that connects Myawaddy to Kawkreik caused conflict between the…

Local residents said mortars and gunfire exploded yesterday morning on the new Myawaddy-Kawkariek Asia Highway. A Karen soldier stationed close to the area and who heard the shooting said. “The explosions sounded like three mortars and four or five shots of small guns. It lasted for about 10 minutes. The shooting seems be from the hillside close to the road…

The Burma Army was quick to replace its South-Eastern Division Commander, following his failure to prevent the recent closure of the Asia Highway due to fighting between the DKBA and government troops. Major General Tin Maung Win was replaced by Brigadier General Myo Win attached to the Military Operation Command 19. A security specialist based on Thai-Burma border who requested…

A report by Free Burma Rangers has recorded renewed offensives by government forces in Northern Shan State and Mali Yang in Kachin State. The fighting in Kachin State started in 2011, and in spite of attempts to negotiate a ceasefire the conflict has continued. The FBR estimate that fighting has led to more than 100,000 internally displaced and in June…

Karen community-based-organizations have come to the aid of civilians displaced by fighting between government troops and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) in Kawkareik Township. The Karen CBO’s have set up a committee to coordinate the assistance for the displaced people. The committee composed of nine members which includes Saw Lay Kway Doo, as negotiation official, Ko Aung San Oo…

Recent fighting between the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and Government troops displaced more than 1,000 people from their homes, left them stranded and in urgent need of assistance for food, shelter and other basic items. The villagers fled their homes to avoid being caught in the conflict that started on July 2nd on the Myawaddy-Kawkariek Asia Highway. Today, three weeks…