A fleet of junta warships guarded by warplanes that is sailing up the Irrawaddy River from Mandalay to Bhamo has arrived in Shwegu Township in Kachin State, where it is shelling villages on both sides of the river, according to anti-regime groups.
The fleet of two warships, a landing craft and two barges loaded with weapons, ammo and other supplies that are pushed by four tugboats left Gaw Wein Jetty in Mandalay on Aug. 28 with over 70 troops on board.
The warships shelled both sides of the river as they went, according to anti-regime group Tigyaing Revolution.
Fighting has been raging in Tigyaing, Indaw, Pinlebu and Bhamo townships in Kachin State, which are accessible by road or river from Sagaing and Mandalay regions.
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), All Burma Students Democratic Front, and People’s Defense Force (PDF) groups under the command of the civilian National Unity Government are fighting the regime there, according to the NUG.
The regime previously airlifted reinforcements, ammunition and supplies to its bases in the townships before switching to the Irrawaddy River, according to anti-regime groups.
The groups said they carried out ambushes on the junta fleet in Madaya, Wetlet, Singu, Thabeikkyin, Shwebo and Tigyaing townships along the 275 miles long waterway from Mandalay to Bhamo.
The fleet unloaded weapons and food supplies in Katha Township, where it stopped for two days before leaving for Bhamo with reinforcements.
A member of Katha District People’s Defense Team said: “The warships have been firing machine guns and artillery since they left Katha while jet fighters strafed villages along the river. Residents had to flee. It appears they’re sending food supplies and weapons to Bhamo.”
Four civilians were killed and some houses and boats burnt in three villages when the warships fired shells at random as they approached a jetty in Katha, according to anti-regime forces.
A junta jet also bombed Moe Tar Lay village in Katha Township before the fleet left the area, forcing residents from five villages to flee, according to the Katha Township people’s administration.
Anti-regime groups ambushed the fleet between Mya Taung and Tigyaing on Sept. 1, according to KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu.
“Two vessels were hit. They stopped and were later pulled to Tigyaing. Three other vessels sailed further upstream,” he said.
The regime retaliated with air raids on villages east of the river the same day, killing nine civilians including a pregnant woman and wounding several others.
