Kachin and Shan States<\/p>\n
![\"Northern](\"https:\/\/www.freeburmarangers.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Northern-Burma-Clash-Map-January-2020-01-2.png\")
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The war in northern Burma this January was characterized by the Burma Army\u2019s attempts to uproot\u00a0ethnic armed organizations (EAOs)\u00a0in northern Shan State\u2019s west side and to keep pressure on\u00a0their\u00a0defensive positions to the east. Kachin State remained calm; however, the Burma Army threatened civilians.\u00a0Battles have been ongoing in\u00a0Burma\u2019s\u00a0north since the ceasefire between the Burma Army and the Kachin broke in 2011.\u00a0Neither ceasefires nor peace talks have stopped the Burma Army from prolonging the war\u00a0by\u00a0seizing territory and resources in northern Burma.<\/p>\n
The Ta\u2019ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Burma Army battled in the west side of northern Shan State in the mountainous area between Kyaukme and Namhsan townships.\u00a0The\u00a0western\u00a0front is a continuation of the Pyin Oo Lwin District attacks launched by the TNLA\u00a0against the Burma Army\u00a0in\u00a0August\u00a02019.\u00a0On the east side of the state, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the\u00a0Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)\u00a0defended the mountain range that runs east to west across Theinni (Hseni) Township from Burma Army\u00a0Light Infantry Division\u00a0(LID) 99, amongst other units.\u00a0The Burma Army has yet to uproot the\u00a0KIA\u2019s\u00a017th\u00a0Battalion in Theinni Township who defend fixed positions.\u00a0The Burma Army\u00a0has kept\u00a0pressure on\u00a0EAOs\u00a0in the east\u00a0to free\u00a0soldiers for the west, as well as\u00a0to allow\u00a0the Burma Army to redirect resources into\u00a0the military offensive in\u00a0Rakhine State.<\/p>\n
Though Kachin State was not characterized by battles in January, the Burma Army remained\u00a0a threat to civilians.\u00a0The Burma Army announced a shoot-on-sight order north of Tingkawk Village,\u00a0Danai Township, in\u00a0an area the Burma Army is clearing for a new military outpost.\u00a0The villagers fear people may stumble into the unmarked territory accidently. In Hpakant Township, a villager was denied entry to Ginsi Village for refusing to give their food to Burma Army sentries stationed around the village.<\/p>\n
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Northern\u00a0Shan State [Battles = 7]<\/h4>\n
Kyuakme\u00a0Township\u00a0[Battle = 1]<\/strong><\/p>\n On Jan. 28 between 1100-1230 hours, an estimated 100 Burma Army soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 301 under LID 88, coming from Ba Leng, and an estimated 60 Burma Army soldiers under LID 88 coming from Pang Koi, approximately 160 combined soldiers, clashed with TNLA soldiers coming from Maw Sang below Low Swi Bum in Kyaukme Township, not far from the Namhsan border and Jan. 25 battle.<\/p>\n Manton\u00a0Township\u00a0[Battle = 1]<\/strong><\/p>\n On Jan. 19 at 1030 hours, TNLA soldiers command detonated a mine at Burma Army troops heading to Namsan Jang Law in Manton Township.<\/p>\n Namhsan\u00a0Township\u00a0[Battle = 1]<\/strong><\/p>\n On Jan. 25 at 0930 hours, approximately 60 Burma Army soldiers under LID 88 were coming from Htang Ngam when they clashed with TNLA No. 2 Brigade soldiers between Ngaw Swit and Kung Sa in Namhsan Township.<\/p>\n Theinni (Hseni)\u00a0Township\u00a0[Torture of MNDAA, Battles = 4]<\/strong><\/p>\n On Jan. 2, four MNDAA soldiers sought to purchase fresh pork from a butcher\u2019s house in Namdau Village, Theinni Township.\u00a0Three soldiers entered the house while the fourth waited outside.\u00a0Burma Army soldiers happened along and arrested the soldier outside, and the remaining three MNDAA fled.\u00a0The Burma Army tied and beat the captured MNDAA soldier and demanded that he show them the direction the other MNDAA had gone.<\/p>\n On Jan. 7 at 1120 hours, KIA soldiers from 17th\u00a0Battalion defended Padang Bum against a Burma Army troop attack in Theinni Township.<\/p>\n On Jan. 13 at 0814 hours, an estimated 50 MNDAA soldiers and 60 Burma Army soldiers from LID 99 battled at Lau Gung Hpaw in Theinni Township.<\/p>\n On Jan. 13 at 1840 hours, MNDAA soldiers battled approximately 60 Burma Army soldiers from LID 99 around Lau Gung Hpaw.\u00a0The Burma Army soldiers were coming from Hu Yau in Theinni Township.<\/p>\n On Jan. 20 between 1400-1500 hours, approx. 60 Burma Army soldiers stationed at Bang Myi battled approximately 40 MNDAA soldiers from No. 202 Battalion at Loi Kang Bum, Theinni Township.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Danai\u00a0Township\u00a0[civilian kill order, Burma Army outpost construction]<\/strong><\/p>\n On Jan. 22, approx. 50 Burma Army soldiers from\u00a0Infantry Battalion\u00a0(IB) 74\u00a0and\u00a0IB 86 led by Major Naing Linn were drawing bamboo, cutting leaves for roofing, and clearing the jungle near Nbungli Pa Dingsa between\u00a0Tingkawk Village and Namhpyek Village to set up new military bases behind the rubber yard at Sai Hpraw Hka, No. 33 Yuzana Road, Danai Township.\u00a0 An estimated 20 Burma Army soldiers from IB 86 provided security near No. 33 Yuzana Road and Nbungli Pa Dingsa to prohibit civilians from entering those areas.<\/p>\n Villagers tending cattle and oxen were told to leave the area and warned the area had become a restricted zone.\u00a0The Burma Army soldiers threatened the villagers that if they trespassed, they\u00a0would\u00a0be shot.\u00a0No nearby villages were warned about the new restriction, and the villagers are now concerned about managing their livelihoods and travel.<\/p>\n Hpakant Township\u00a0[extortion]<\/strong><\/p>\n On Jan. 4 at 1700 hours, a truck carrying rice to Ginsi\u00a0Village was stopped at a Burma Army checkpoint at the Ginsi Village entrance.\u00a0 Burma Army soldiers said, \u201cOne bag must be given to us if you transport 10 bags.\u201d\u00a0The rice vendor, unable to pay the extortion, returned to Mugawng in Hpakant Township.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***\u00a0The information above is provided by and limited to reports from Rangers and the Kachin Independence Army.\u00a0 It does not represent the totality of battles, human rights abuses, or civilian displacement.\u00a0 The information and map provide a snapshot of the conflict.<\/p>\nKachin State<\/h4>\n