Fighting In Myanmar's Kachin State -- The Economist
Lengthening shadow
ONE of the most laudable achievements of Myanmar’s ongoing process of democratic reform has been the ceasefire agreements the new government has signed with all of the major ethnic insurgent groups—all but one, that is: the Kachin, under the banner of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), fight on. Unfortunately, that single conflict has become big and ugly enough to cast a lengthening shadow over the rest of Myanmar’s progress.
In the past few weeks fighting has escalated further. There is now plenty of evidence that, contrary to earlier promises made by the government, Myanmar’s army is throwing almost its whole weight against the KIA. At the beginning of the year footage shot by Free Burma Rangers, a quasi-military, humanitarian-support group, clearly showed helicopter gunships attacking rebel positions. Witnesses saw jet fighters being used as well, providing close air support to thousands of ground troops. According to some analysts, even in the darkest days of the old military regime, air power was never used in this way against the ethnic militias. So this would mark a significant ramping-up of the army’s aggressive efforts. They are gearing up a civil war that restarted only in 2011, after a truce that had lasted 17 years.
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More News On The Burma - Kachin Conflict
Burma military expands conflict in Kachin State with air power -- Karen News
Airstrikes, Ground Fighting Continue Near Laiza -- Irrawaddy
Burmese jets attack Kachin positions near Laiza, says KIA -- Burma News International
More Kachin civilians killed by Burma army -- Burma News International
Kachin Villagers Recall Terror of Laiza Shelling -- Irrawaddy
Myanmar denies shelling Kachin civilians -- Bangkok post
Burma Attacks in Kachin Prompt Global Criticism (Video) -- Voice of America
Europe calls for an immediate ceasefire in Myanmar -- New Europe
Suu Kyi Says Kachin War Should ‘Stop Immediately’ -- Irrawaddy
Kachin Minority Want China's Action in Conflict with Burma -- NTD
Burma Conflict Tests China’s Policy of Non-Interference -- William Ide, Voice of America
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