The battle for Bhamo continues into its 10th month in Kachin State

Sources on the frontline in southern Kachin State told DVB that the offensive launched by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to seize control of Bhamo Township from regime forces has continued into its tenth month of intense battle on Saturday. 

“We’re locked in back-and-forth fighting in Bhamo,” a KIA source told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that most homes in Bhamo have been destroyed by airstrikes and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or drone, attacks.

The total number of casualties in 10 months of the battle for Bhamo has not been reported. Bhamo is located 118 miles (190 km) south of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and 56 miles (90 km) southwest of the KIA headquarters at Laiza. 

Naw Bu, the KIA spokesperson, told Kachin News Group that the ethnic armed group captured a regime outpost which served as a guard for the Infantry Battalion 47 on Sept. 29. But Infantry Battalion 47 has been under regime control since the fighting began on Dec. 4, sources told DVB. 

KIA-led forces, including its allied People’s Defence Force (PDF), managed to take up positions along the two–mile stretch of the road between Bhamo and Momauk on the same day, he added.

Local media reported that fighting resumed at the Bhamo Airport on Sept. 20. The KIA reportedly withdrew from the regime’s Tank Battalion 5014 and its Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 236 in Bhamo, which it seized in February, on Sept. 11. 

Naw Bu told DVB that regime forces regained control of Artillery Battalion 366 and half of Bhamo Airport on Aug. 10. He claimed that regime reinforcements, including troops, artillery, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), arrived in Bhamo on Aug. 1 from a Myanmar Navy fleet.

The regime Union Election Commission (UEC) announced that out of Kachin State’s 18 townships, elections won’t be held in Sumprabum, Injangyang, Chipwi and Tsawlaw – all 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, located 94 miles (151 km) west of Myitkyina, and Waingmaw, located 30 miles (48 km) east of Myitkyina, are contested between KIA and regime forces.

The first phase of the elections will be held in 102 out of Myanmar’s 330 townships, including Kachin’s Tanai, Khaunglanphu, Nagmon, Putao, Mohnyin, and Myitkyina, according to the UEC.