Residents in Kachin State told DVB that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has forcefully recruited 100 young males from Hpakant Township since Sept. 9.
“We don’t dare go outside anymore,” a Hpakant resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that the KIA did not inform residents about its plan to forcefully recruit new members.
Naw Bu, the KIA spokesperson, has not yet responded to a DVB request for comment to address allegations of forced recruitment.
Hpakant is located 94-158 miles (151-254 km) west and northwest of the state capital Myitkyina and the KIA headquarters of Laiza. Fighting between regime forces and the KIA in Hpakant resumed in June.
Naw Bu told Kachin News Group that the KIA withdrew from the regime’s Tank Battalion 5014 and its Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 236 in Bhamo Township, which it seized in February, on Sept. 11.
He claimed that regime forces received reinforcements, including troops, artillery, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), from a Myanmar Navy fleet that reached Bhamo on Aug. 1.
Bhamo is located 56-212 miles (90-341 km) south of Laiza, Myitkyina, and Hpakant. The KIA launched its offensive in southern Kachin on Dec. 4.
The People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Mandalay Region told DVB that 17 Navy vessels returned to Madaya Township on Sept. 10 after departing Bhamo on Sept. 5.
A PDF spokesperson told DVB that the Myanmar Air Force provided the Navy vessels protection from resistance attacks.
Naw Bu told DVB on Sept. 15 that the regime has accelerated its counteroffensive in Bhamo, Waingmaw, and Hpakant, so that it can set up polling stations for the regime general elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28.
Waingmaw is located 30 miles (48 km) east of Myitkyina and 74 miles (119 km) north of Laiza.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Sept. 14 that out of Kachin State’s 18 townships, elections won’t be held in Sumprabum, Injangyang, Chipwi and Tsawlaw. These four are under KIA control.
The UEC also included Mabein Township in neighbouring northern Shan State in its list of 56 townships where elections will not be held. Myikyina, Mohnyin, Putao and Shwegu are under regime control. Bhamo, Hpakant and Waingmaw are contested between KIA and regime forces.
