Military attacks near ethnic group's stronghold threaten to deliver a setback to its independence movement.
Ethnic Kachin rebels in northern Myanmar say the government is
keeping up air and ground attacks against them despite international
calls for restraint.
An exclusive video obtained by Al Jazeera on Tuesday reportedly shows
government air raids on an area controlled by Kachin fighters.
Pointing to the latest skirmish near the northern city of Laiza, Al
Jazeera's Wayne Hay says that "there is no sign that this fighting is
slowing down anytime soon.
"There is some feeling that perhaps the Myanmar military is launching
an attempt to take that town, which of course would be a severe blow to
the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)".
Laiza, which is near the border with China, and a government base are
close to each other, and access to both is by the same road.
Wednesday 9 January 2013
Thursday 3 January 2013
Myanmar military admits airstrikes against Kachin
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar's military acknowledged launching
airstrikes against ethnic Kachin rebels in the north and said it
captured a hilltop post from where the insurgents had attacked
government supply convoys.
The statement broadcast on state
television Wednesday contradicted government claims two days earlier
that the military was not carrying out offensive air attacks on the
Kachin, raising questions about how much control the elected government
of reformist President Thein Sein has over the army.
The United States said Wednesday the use of air power in Kachin state was "extremely troubling." In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland urged the government and the Kachin rebel group to cease their conflict and begin a real dialogue for peace.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Myanmar's authorities "to desist from any action that could endanger the lives of civilians living in the area or further intensify the conflict in the region," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said. Ban called on the government and rebels to work toward political reconciliation.
The statement broadcast on state
television Wednesday contradicted government claims two days earlier
that the military was not carrying out offensive air attacks on the
Kachin, raising questions about how much control the elected government
of reformist President Thein Sein has over the army.The United States said Wednesday the use of air power in Kachin state was "extremely troubling." In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland urged the government and the Kachin rebel group to cease their conflict and begin a real dialogue for peace.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Myanmar's authorities "to desist from any action that could endanger the lives of civilians living in the area or further intensify the conflict in the region," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said. Ban called on the government and rebels to work toward political reconciliation.
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