Burmese troops bomb KIA camp in Lai Zar with chemical weapons
Post Date: January 8th
Posted By: PNA
In a recent statement, the Myanmar government denied
accusations of using chemical warfare against ethnic groups in Kachin state.
However, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) maintains lethal chemical bombs
were used in a recent airstrike targeting opposition forces in Lai Zar earlier
in the month.
KIA
soldiers in the area reported an intense heat and odor and claimed to have lost
consciousness for an extended period of time when shells exploded. A
spokesperson for the group commented on the detriment the bombing posed to
public health and safety by adding, “around that [bombed] area, everybody
suffers”.
The report surfaced after the KIA, in conjunction with the
leaders from the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) denounced
military operations that incorporated the release or hazardous chemicals by air
strike. In the
recent conflict, rebels forces were attacked by the military as the Myanmar
government has intensified its war operations; Burmese troops aimed to
confiscate the the KIA occupied town of Lai Zar.
The wave
of attacks began when the 17 year ceasefire agreement between the government
and Kachin opposition force came to an abrupt end nearly two years ago; leaving
thousands of people displaced by the conflict in Kachin state since June 2011.
Reports of chemical weapon use were made as well in 2011, when fighting first
started.
The recent attacks included a three day continuous fire on
the KIA. Three helicopters and two fighter jets with chemical weapons were used
in the air raid.
Stationed in the Phon Pyin Pon area, Light Infantry Battalion
(LIB 382) and Infantry battalion (IB 14), which are under the Myanmar
government military operations command headquarters (MOC) 21 launched the 3 day
fire in Bhamo district in Kachin state; the attack was nearly one mile away
from Lagayang where the Burmese government is centralized.
Sources suggest the government claims that after the failure of the last peace talks, the
KIA stepped up attacks on government military which in return launched air
strikes against the KIA in the beginning of this year at point-771 hill -
leading to the capture of KIA battalion 23.
After the incident,
Presidential spokesperson Ye Htut released a statement saying “Our military never uses chemical weapons and we have no
intention to use them at all.”
Conflict
has plagued the Kachin state since the country of Myanmar won independence from
Britain in 1948.
Myanmar’s
current regime has commissioned tentative peace deals with other major ethnic
rebel groups, but efforts to create an agreement with the KIA has proven
unsuccessful.
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