Burmese army ravaged KIA’s strategic hill after continuous shelling

Hkaya bum ravaged by Burmese army’s continuous shelling Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been pushed from its Lagat bum post located on Hkaya mountain range on Jan 26 at around 1 pm. Hkaya Bum is one of the highest peak in the mountain range surrounding KIO’s administrative capital Laiza. Almost all the trees in the whole mountain range are destroyed by the shelling, said a front-line source. A resident says, “Since Burmese forces overrun Hkaya bum, there is a resounding silence in Laiza and its surrounding area for the first time in 2013.” Kachin capital security forces and combat troops stationed at Hkaya bum have been pounded with one of the heaviest artillery shells for weeks. On Jan 16 and 17, two Burmese army’s fighter jets fired with rockets on KIA positions in Hkaya bum. A combined force of at least 10 infantry battalions and combat commando began their ground attacks on KIA post once the artillery shelling stopped. The shelling continued again for long hours after ground troops advanced a few meters, said Kachin front-line source. On Jan 24 alone, Burmese army’s artillery units stationed at nearby mountains fired more than 1,600 times. KIO’s spokesperson U La Nan said, “Thursday artillery shelling by Burmese army is a record high since the beginning of the war”. Losing Lagat Bum post is a major blow to KIA but Kachin officials are still confident that their headquarters are secure enough from Burmese army’s immediate threats. Local observers say fighting will likely continue in nearby areas as troops from both sides mingle in the area. BY KACHINLANDNEWS