KACHIN STATE – Junta council troops and Myohla KPDF (Kachin People’s Defence Force) engaged in a clash near Thinbawinn Village in Shwegu Township on September 20 and the clash continued on September 21.
A Shwegu resident shared that a battle took place on September 20 and that sounds of heavy artillery fire were also heard starting around 8 a.m. on September 21.
“We have heard the sounds since yesterday (September 20). I heard that yesterday’s battle was at Thinbawinn (Village). I heard them talk about it in the market. This one (September 21 battle) is unclear where. We are hearing continuous rounds of heavy weapons,” said the resident.
A member of Shwegu PDF said that it could be the junta forces that alighted the warships that came up from Mandalay fighting against Myohla KPDF from across the river at the military zone.
“I think the battle happened. We heard the sounds in the morning. Probably near Thinbawinn Village. The (junta) column is still there. In Shwegu and Bhamo along the coast,” said the PDF member.
The details of casualties are still being clarified with Myohla KPDF.
Junta warships transporting weapons and rations from Mandalay to Bhamo arrived at Shwegu on September 18 and the junta troops on board set fire to the gold mining motorboats moored at Shwegu port.
On the same day, junta terrorists had torched three houses at Moesit Village as well as houses at Yelel Village, around two miles from Thinbawinn Village, the current site of battle.
The junta warships departed Shwegu on September 20 while firing light and heavy weapons and have reportedly arrived at Bhamo on September 21 morning.