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| The entrance of Ginsi, the headquarters of KIA Battalion 6 in Hpakant before it was controlled by Burmese government forces on Jan. 18. Photo: Kachin News Group |
Last week, 46-year old Zahkung
Zung Lwi, was shot and killed by government troops while working on her farm in
western Kachin state, according to her family. The incident took place on
January 24th near Ginsi village in the jade-rich Hpakant (Phakant) district.
Zung Lwi, was working in her
field with her husband and children when government troops patrolling the area
opened fire, fatally wounding the mother of three. Zung Lwi's husband Galau
Ying Bawm and her children managed to escape the gunfire, according to
relatives. The family is now sheltering in a church run internally displaced
persons (IDP) camp in nearby Lawng Hkang.
Ginsi village and the
surrounding area have seen heavy fighting in recent weeks after large numbers
of government reinforcements arrived in the area to take part in an offensive
against local forces from the 6th Battalion
of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
On January 18th Col. Nhkum Zau Doi, commander of the KIA 6th Battalion instructed all civilians living in
the Ginsi area to flee for their safety in advance of the government push to
take the area. Shortly after words the 6th Battalion headquarters in Ginsi fell to
government forces.
An estimated 3,000 people from
the Ginsi region have been forced to flee from their homes since the beginning
of the year. Most are believed to be sheltering in churches and Buddhist
monasteries in Hpakant, Lawng Hkang and Seng Tawng.
www.kachinnews.com
www.burmese.kachinnews.com
www.kachin.kachinnews.com
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