KACHIN STATE – Military news source in Kachin State reported that the departmental offices in Bhamo Town have been taken control by Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied forces on December 5.
“The KIA has taken control of all government offices in Bhamo. Today (December 5) there was fierce fighting in the town. At least 7 people were killed and more than 10 were injured in heavy artilleries shelling towards the town by junta thugs,” a Kachin military news source said.
On December 5, there was intense fighting at the No. (21) Operations Command Headquarters (SKK-21) base, Min Hla Base, Bhamo University, Battalion 47, and the remaining military council camps in Mansi Township.
The Colonel Naw Bu, the spokesperson of KIA, has not been able to contact regarding the details status of the battle in Bhamo and Mansi.
The battle to capture and complete control of Bhamo Town and the remaining military council troops in Mansi Township has started on December 4. On the first day of the operation, 10 terrorist army posts in Bhamo were captured, and on the second day of the operation, 5 junta council posts were seized, another military source reported.
U Zaw San, a Kachin military and political analyst, said that fighting has been continuing in Bhamo and locals said that almost all the military council outposts outside Bhamo had been seized.
“The junta council said that they have closed the entrances and exits of the city to protect the civilians. At present, the civilians in the city cannot leave even if they want to avoid the fighting. For this case, I think the military council is using civilians as human shields in the fighting,” U Zaw San said.
Any armed group that uses civilians for protection or as human shields is a war crime, he added.
“If the civilians in Bhamo have fled the war, the military council is likely to lose Bhamo soon.” U Zaw San said.
The local residents reported that the junta troops in 7 miles Aung Myay Village, between Bhamo and Momauk Township, had also withdrawn to Bhamo town.
