Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Nine days after fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese government troops began, the government has said it wants to negotiate a cease-fire. Meanwhile, fighting between the two sides continues.
The message was forwarded by the Kachin Consultative Assembly. ‘The message said that they had stopped fighting against us, and they wanted us to stop fighting too. And the message said they wanted to hold a dialogue’, Hla Nang, a central committee member of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) told Mizzima.
On Friday afternoon, according to sources close to KIA, Battalion 5 and government troops were fighting in Mohnyin District in Kachin State. During a one-hour battle, seven government troops were killed. The KIO did not suffer any casualties, according to a KIO official. The information could not be confirmed by other sources.
The KIO said they were facing troops from the government’s Infantry Battalion 142 of the Northern Command.
‘In response to the offer, we replied that although they said they had stopped fighting, it was just rhetoric. We said we needed to see official documents.’
‘We asked them to give us proof such as the commander in chief’s order or a telegram that ordered the relevant government battalions to stop fighting. If they can give us such orders, we will think about accepting the offer’, said a KIA official.
On Friday morning, Kachin Consultative Assembly chairman Sin Wa and patrons Lungjung San Mai, Labang Gam Aung and Ding Yau Zau Ing arrived in Laiza, the KIO headquarters, as delegates.
Kachin State Chief Minister Lajun Ngum Sai, various ministers, USDP General-Secretary No.1 Htay Oo, USDP General-Secretary No.2 Thein Zaw and members of the Kachin Consultative Assembly held a two-day meeting in the Kachin State Assembly’s office in Myitkyina on Wednesday and Thursday and then delegates were sent to Laiza to consult with the KIA.
