On June 3, 2023, military council forces conducted an arson attack on vehicles belonging to 111 Company in the Mawsizar mining area of Hpakant Township, Kachin State, according to local residents. The incident occurred at approximately 8:45 AM when military forces entered the mining area in the Lonkhin village tract and deliberately set fire to a total of five vehicles, including two dump trucks and three backhoes owned by the company.
According to a local resident, the same military column had previously entered 111 Company’s territory on May 31 and burned down workers’ dormitories. The military forces responsible for these attacks are stationed near Phayarkone area. After conducting the initial arson attack on May 31, they withdrew from the area only to return on June 3 to carry out another destructive operation targeting the company’s vehicles. The military unit involved in both incidents has been identified as the same group based near Phayarkone.
Since April, the military council has launched offensive operations in the Hpakant region with more than 600 troops divided into multiple columns. As these military columns advanced through the area, numerous clashes occurred along their route. The military forces reached Hpakant town in late April. Throughout their advancement, the military council troops have committed various atrocities against civilians along their path, including arbitrary arrests and killings. In the Lonkhin area alone, at least five civilians were reportedly killed by the military forces during their operations. These actions are part of a broader pattern of violence and destruction being carried out by military council forces in the region, affecting both local businesses and civilian populations.
