KACHIN STATE- A military source said that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) launched an offensive against the Military Council Infantry Battalion (141) near Sinbo, again on Tuesday (March 19).
On February 10, after the KIA captured Sinbo town, the first offensive attack was made on the Infantry Battalion IB (141) situated near the town but could not occupy it. KIA launched an offensive attack on February 24 for the second time but the battalion was not captured. This was the third offensive.
“The offensive attack on Sinbo IB (141) starts again today,” a military source stated the situation on March 19.
Another military news stated that Military Council troops who were trapped near Laiza, the KIA headquarters, faked a battle. The KIA has already captured the military council camps around Laiza one after another. So, the military council soldiers who deserted their camps were trapped in some areas, according to a military source.
“The camps around Nafort (near Laiza where soldiers are trapped) have been opening fire heavy and small weapons (one-sided) at around 4 p.m. on March 18, without any offensive attack on them. Last night, they called for aerial support. The planes fired towards the (deserted) forest area (where there was no one). From 5 a.m. on March 19, until 9 to 10 a.m., they opened fire. In the evening, everything calmed down once again,” a military source said.
The military news source said that the faking battle may have involved troops pretending there was a battle and working on their ways to escape, including surrendering.
“Even if we don’t attack them, they won’t be able to hold out there for long. They are already trapped with no way out,” the military source said.
KIA has reportedly occupied more than 30 military council camps in Laiza; Waing Maw, Somprabom, Hpakant, and Momauk Towns this March.