A Kachin leader claimed yesterday that clashes between Myanmar government forces and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State has intensified over the past few days, driving some 2,000 people to flee rural villages for larger towns, according to a reporting by Radio Free Asia.
Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) spokesman Dau Khar told RFA's Myanmar Service on September 23 that fighting had escalated to the level of heavy weapons recently, with no more small arms fighting, especially in the mountainous area northeast of Waingmaw and northeast of Laiza.
"The government side has not mentioned any casualties, except those in Kokant region. We have two killed on our side,” the spokesman said. 
Another Kachin official said that on Thursday, government forces launched an offensive using some heavy weapons and a clash ensued between them and KIA, near In-Kham-Bon Hill east of the Myitkyina-Bhamo road. 
In August, fighting started in several areas of Kachin State to then pause for several days while Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi convened the first round of her 21st Century Panglong Conference in Nay Pyi Taw, bringing in representatives from most of the ethnic armies that have fought the government for decades.