In this photo taken on Nov. 11, 2012, Myanmar soldiers and police walk as they provide security in Sittwe, Rakhine State, western Myanmar. Ethnic Kachin rebels in Myanmar say clashes in the country’s north are continuing despite a government promise to cease fire. An official with the Kachin Independence Army says government forces stopped attacks Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 around an army base at Lajayang, just south of the rebel-held town of Laiza. But the official says army assaults are under way elsewhere on least three other rebel positions in the region. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
Myanmar's Kachin rebels say fighting continues
In this photo taken on Nov. 11, 2012, Myanmar soldiers and police walk as they provide security in Sittwe, Rakhine State, western Myanmar. Ethnic Kachin rebels in Myanmar say clashes in the country’s north are continuing despite a government promise to cease fire. An official with the Kachin Independence Army says government forces stopped attacks Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 around an army base at Lajayang, just south of the rebel-held town of Laiza. But the official says army assaults are under way elsewhere on least three other rebel positions in the region. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
By AYE AYE WIN
Associated Press /
January 19, 2013
Text Size:
- –
- +
Page 2 of 2 --
‘‘The government announced last night that they will stop offensives,’’ Min Htay said, ‘‘But in practice, troops continue their barrage.’’
Min Htay said hundreds of government ground forces overran three rebel hill posts around Lajayang in fierce battles on Friday, forcing outnumbered guerrillas to retreat.
Friday’s announcement that the army was ceasing offensives said that since December, 35 soldiers were killed and 190 wounded in Kachin state. The total number of Kachin casualties is not known, though the group’s supporters said it included civilians.
The government also said that since the war reignited in 2011, there have been 1,095 skirmishes with the guerrillas, who it also blamed for blasting 133 roads and bridges with explosives and laying land mines that wounded civilians at least 30 times.
© Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
