The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Kachin People’s Defense Forces (KPDFs) and allied resistance forces have gained control of Kachin State’s Chipwi town, a rare-earth mining hub that was formerly under the control of a junta-allied militia group.
The KIA and joint resistance forces started attacking Chipwi on Sunday morning and by the evening had seized Chipwi police station, the Mile 4 military gate on the Chipwi-Panwa Road, the Nan Oo militia gate, a small military outpost, and the Sha Ngor militia gate, according to KIA information officer Colonel Naw Bu and residents.
“We started attacking Chipwi, Sotlot and Sha Ngor in the morning. We gained control of the Sha Ngor [gate] and the important military base of Chipwi in the evening. It is assumed that we can control the town now,” Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy.
Located about 121 km northeast of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina, Chipwi is in territory claimed by the militia leader Zahkung Ting Ying, who leads the New Democratic Army Kachin (NDA-K), a junta-aligned Border Guard Force. The territory is known as Kachin Special Region 1, which includes Chipwi and Pangwa. The NDA-K controls many rare-earth mines in the area.
On June 7, Zahkung Ting Ying issued a military order declaring the KIA and PDFs as its enemies and vowing to take decisive action against them if they entered his territory.
After the KIA and joint resistance forces took control of Chipwi, military junta fighter jets dropped over 40 bombs on the town on Sunday night, resulting in civilian casualties, local media outlet Kachin News Group reported.
The Irrawaddy was not able to independently verify the report.
The joint revolutionary forces seized the Chipwi Myoma police station, where around 30 military junta troops were deployed, at 2 p.m. and the town’s main base at 8 p.m. Over 100 military junta troops were estimated to have been stationed at that base, a resident said.
Chipwi residents have fled the town to nearby places due to the military junta’s aerial bombardments.
Chipwi is a crucial town for the KIA not only because it is a transportation hub, but also for its bases. Before Chipwi fell to the KIA, junta forces were using it as a base to pound the KIA’s nearby bases and outposts with shells, Naw Bu stated.
“The regime troops would thoroughly check civilians at the gates around Chipwi and fire shells at our bases from the town,” he added.
The KIA and its allies have seized Momauk, Lwelgel, Sumprabum, Sadone, Injangyang, Sinbo, Myo Hla, Myo Thit, Dawthponeyan and Chipwi in Kachin State and Mabein in northern Shan State.
Joint revolutionary forces have seized over 220 military junta bases and outposts in Kachin State since March.
