10 Burma soldiers die in battle with KIA in Shan State

A KIA SNIPER TAKES POSITION NEAR KIO LAIZA HEADQUARTERS IN KACHIN STATE, NORTHERN BURMA.

MUSE, Burma — A short battle between the Burmese army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in northern Shan state ended Thursday morning with the death of at least 10 Burmese soldiers, including an officer, according to KIA official in the area. 

Burma army redeploys troops to Kachin frontline

A CONVOY OF BURMESE TROOPS ON MYITKYINA-BHAMO ROAD.

MUSE, Burma — Less than a week after peace talks between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Burmese government ended unsuccessfully, the Burmese army began a large scale troop redeployment, sending fresh soldiers to relieve those already based at the Kachin frontlines, the Kachin News Group learned.

Burma soldiers open fire on Chinese village sheltering refugees

KACHIN WAR REFUGEES WHO ARE UNOFFICIALLY SHELTERING IN THE CAMPS IN CHINESE TERRITORIES.

As local residents marked the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year Sunday evening, troops from the Burmese army opened fire on La Ying, a village located in China that is currently sheltering many Kachin refugees.

Update on Burma army attack on civilians in New Seng Ra village in Hpakant jade area

Photo 1 An ethnic Kachin women whose hand was severely injured after she was shot on January 15 by Burmese army troops in New Seng Ra village.  She will likely never regain full use of her hand.Photo-2 This ethnic Kachin man was seriously injured after he was shot in the abdomen by Burmese army troops in New Seng Ra village on January 15.  It’s unclear at this time if he will survive due to the nature of his injuries.

Thein Sein's orders for Burma army to halt Kachin offensive are worthless

EX-MILITARY GENERAL BRURMA PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN.

Burma's armed forces continued today to attack positions held by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin and northern Shan state, this despite claims from President Thein Sein's government that an order has again been re-issued commanding a halt to the army's Kachin offensive.

Burma govt and KIO meet in China for talks

JAN.18 KIO DELEGATION LED BY SUMLUT GAM(WHITE CLOTH)MET BURMESE GOVERNMENT DELEGATION LED BY U AUNG THAUNG IN RULI.CHINA'S SOUTHWEST YUNNAN PROVINCE.

Representatives from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Burma's government met in the Chinese city of Ruili today, for the first day of a planned two day long series of negotiations.

10 groups call for an end to Burma's Kachin conflict

BURMESE PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN (LEFT) AND KIO CHAIRMAN ZAWNG HRA.

Concerned by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Kachin and northern Shan state, a number of important Kachin organizations have issued a statement on Tuesday which calls for an immediate end to all military aggression in all ethnic areas, including in areas where the Burmese government has been fighting the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Burma army continues killing unarmed civilians in Hpakant

PEOPLE ARE COLLECTING JADESTONES AT A JAKE MINE IN HPAKANT, WESTERN KACHIN STATE.

Troops from Burma's armed forces are continuing to kill unarmed civilians in the Hpakant (or Hpakan) jade mining area of Kachin State, according to eyewitnesses on the ground.

KIO releases statement to all citizens of Burma

Burma's second strongest armed ethnic group the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) today released an official statement aimed at the entire population of Burma, which reiterated the group's desire for a truly democratic and federal Burma.

KIA reopens Burma’s Hpakant jade roads in Kachin state

WORKERS IN A JADE MINE.THE HPAKANT JADE MINE IS ESTIMATED TO BE THE THIRD HIGHEST SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR BURMA'S CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) restored public access to roads in the Hpakant jade mining area in Burma's northern Kachin State, having closed them for 9 days earlier this month due to security concerns.

Open letter to the US, UK and Canadian governments on the Kachin crisis and sanctions

DR.LA RAW MARAN, ADVISOR AND CONSULTANT TO THE KACHIN LEADERS.

In response to the ongoing Burmese army offensive against the Kachin people retired literature professor La Raw Maran, a Kachin living in the US, has written an open letter to the governments of the US, UK and Canada urging them to maintain pressure on Burma's army to stop its brutal offensive against the Kachin Indepence Organization (KIO).

Kachin in Canada call for an end to Burma army offensive against KIO

HAIR OF THE CANADIAN BURMA PARLIMENTARY CAUCUS JIM KARYGIANNIS EMBRACES KACHIN ELDER DR. MARAN LA RAW AT A MEETING IN TORONTO JANUARY 7, 2012.

A group of concerned Kachin met in Canada earlier this month to call for an end to the Burmese army's offensive against Kachin Independence Organization.  They called on Canada's government to to do more for the estimated 60,000 civilians displaced by the conflict.  They also asked for Canada to put pressure on the Burmese government to stop the army from committing human rights abuses including the rape and torture of civilians.

Burma Kachin churches in Hpakant take in 1,000 refugees since New Year

KACHIN CHRISTAN CROSS IN MAWMAU BUM IN HPAKANT JADE MINING TOWN, WESTERN KACHIN STATE.

Churches and Buddhist monasteries in the Hpakant (or Hpakan) jade mining area of Burma's northern Kachin State have taken in nearly 1,000 refugees since the beginning of the year.  The huge increase in displaced people in the Hpakant area is a result of the ongoing Burmese army offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), according to sources on the ground.

Burma Army helicopter shot down by Kachin resistance

BURMA ARMY'S TRANSPORT HELICOPTER.

Officials from the Kachin Independence Organization's armed wing claim that on January 4 their group shot down a Burmese army transport helicopter in northern Kachin State.

Burma marks 64th Independence Day with continued offensive against KIO

A KIA SNIPER TAKES POSITION AT ONE OF MANY FRONTLINES IN WAINGMAW TOWNSHIP, EASTERN KACHIN STATE.

As Burma's nominally civilian government marked the country's 64th Independence Day, Burma's armed forces continued to wage war against ethnic minorities in Kachin and northern Shan State.  Due to the army's continued offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) few if any people in Kachin and northern Shan State opted to celebrate the holiday, according to local residents reached for comment by the Kachin News Group.