The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allied People’s Defense Force (PDF) seized control of the rare earth mining town of Kanpaikti – the last border town in Kachin State under Naypyidaw’s control – in Waingmaw Township on Wednesday.
“We are still clearing the town. We arrested some military personnel,” a source from the KIA told DVB. “The military and its allied troops left the outposts but fought back while hiding inside buildings in the town.”
Kanpaikti is located 78 miles (126 km) east of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina along the China-Myanmar border in the Kachin Special Region 1, which was administered by the Kachin Border Guard Force (BGF) on behalf of the regime Naypyidaw.
The seizure of Kanpaikti brings the entire region under KIA control. Pangwa, the capital of the special region, was seized by the KIA on Oct. 19.
“I heard some [regime soldiers] are hiding in the cave along the border. The KIA is chasing them,” a resident told DVB. Local media reported that KIA-led forces launched its attack on Kanpaikti Nov. 9. Some residents had fled in anticipation.
The Kachin Special Region 1 is a hub for Myanmar’s lucrative rare earth mining, which was reportedly worth $1.4 billion USD last year. Rare earth elements are vital components used in electronics, including batteries, cameras and computer chips, as well as in glass and magnets.
Kanpaikti residents reported that 30 injured pro-regime soldiers fled into China for safety during fighting with the KIA. One man claimed that those who didn’t flee changed into civilian clothes to evacuate the town with all other residents leaving.
Myanmar Air Force jet fighters were spotted flying around but were reportedly unable to carry out airstrikes due to heavy rains and wind. Naw Bu, the KIA spokesperson, told The Irrawaddy that it plans on resuming rare earth mining operations, which have been halted since its offensive began in September.
Kachin Special Region 1 consists of Tsawlaw, Chipwi, and parts of Waingmaw Township in northeastern Kachin State. The Kachin BGF is led by Zahkung Ting Ying, 84, who ordered “strict defense measures” against the KIA in anticipation of its offensive.
A former KIA officer, Zahkung Ting Ying, led a splinter faction that joined the Communist Party of Burma in 1968 until 1989 when it collapsed and he formed the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K). He then agreed to a ceasefire with the Myanmar military in December of that year.
The military regime at the time declared the territory held by the NDA-K as the Kachin Special Region 1. In 2009, the NDA-K agreed to come under the military’s chain of command and became known as the Kachin BGF.
Under military protection, Zawkhung Ting Ying and his family grew wealthy from revenue generated by rare earth mineral mines, as well as the timber and narcotics trade into China using Pangwa and Kanpaikti border towns.
The whereabouts of Zawkhung Ting Ying is currently unknown. His home in Pangwa was sealed off by the KIA shortly after it seized the town. The KIA launched a major offensive across Kachin State on March 7. It has taken control of at least 14 towns in Kachin and northern Shan states, including in Sagaing Region, since last year.
