• Burmese
Saturday, June 21, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
27 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Planning New Attacks, KIA Warns Illegal Miners to Get Out of Hukawng Valley

Lawi Weng by Lawi Weng
April 5, 2018
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Personnel from the KIA’s Battalion 14 secure mining areas in Tanai Township in 2017.

Personnel from the KIA’s Battalion 14 secure mining areas in Tanai Township in 2017.

6.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Kachin Independence Army on Thursday warned illegal mine workers in the Hukawng Valley, including gold and amber miners, to leave as the group plans to launch guerrilla attacks against the Myanmar Army and plant landmines in the area starting April 10.

“You have all been warned to leave the mining areas. If you do not, you will be responsible for your fate,” a statement issued by the KIA’s Battalion 14 reads.

“Anyone with relatives working in mining areas needs to inform them,” it reads.

RelatedPosts

Drone Strike Destroys Myanmar Junta’s Crash-Landed Aircraft

Drone Strike Destroys Myanmar Junta’s Crash-Landed Aircraft

May 22, 2025
2.3k
KIA Blames Myanmar Junta Airpower for Bhamo Stalemate

KIA Blames Myanmar Junta Airpower for Bhamo Stalemate

May 8, 2025
1.5k
Myanmar Junta Continues to Defend Key Kachin City

Myanmar Junta Continues to Defend Key Kachin City

May 7, 2025
1.8k

The statement listed gold and amber mining areas including Shaduzup, Nam Byu, Nam Kawn, Tungmani, Dagum and Daba.

KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy today that the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw) continues to maintain bases in gold and amber mining areas that he said belonged to the KIA. The Tatmadaw seized the areas in their recent military offensive from January to March.

“Fighting will break out again soon when our KIA launches troop movements in the areas. Therefore, we issued a warning to illegal miners in the area to leave as our military operation will start soon,” he said.

Battalion 14 had to abandon its headquarters in the second week of March in the Hukawng area after the Tatmadaw launched a major offensive. The KIA withdrew from their bases in the face of overwhelming force from the Tatmadaw.

The KIA has no more permanent bases in Hukawng, but continues to patrol in the area. It said that it also planned to use guerrilla attacks and land mines to fight the Tatmadaw.

The Tatmadaw launched a military offensive in the Hukawng Valley’s Tanai area in its initial offensive in January. Later it seized areas that had been under KIA control including gold and amber mining areas. The Tatmadaw started its second offensive in the first week of March and the KIA was forced to abandon Battalion 14’s base.

“There is a lot of tension between us and the Myanmar Army because we are based close to each other in the areas we control,” Col Naw Bu said.

The Tatmadaw accuses the KIA of mining illegally in Hukawng, and claims this is one of the reasons it attacked the KIA. Once they had taken over the areas, however, they brought mine workers back and let them mine again, just as the KIA did.

“These were our areas. Therefore, we will launch an offensive to get them back,” Col Naw Bu said.

The Tatmadaw had only brought in about 100 mine workers so far, but plans to bring in more, according to the KIA.

Peace talks between the Myanmar Army and the KIA have been held several times in recent years. However, they have been halted since February after the KIA issued a statement listing conditions for their peace talks with the Tatmadaw.

Similarly, the Tatmadaw asked the KIA to withdraw at least three battalions, including Battalion 14, which was in the Tanai area, and Battalion 12 and Battalion 27 in the Mansi Township area. However, the KIA refused to withdraw, leading to sporadic clashes in these areas. It eventually withdrew from the Battalion 14 base.

The Tatmadaw also attacked KIA Battalion 3 in Bamaw near Mansi Township on March 30 and 31, and tensions remain high there, according to local sources.

More than 100,000 people remain displaced from their homes after a 17-year ceasefire between the central government and the KIA collapsed in 2011.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Ethnic Conflictillegal miningKachin Independence Army
Lawi Weng

Lawi Weng

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Myanmar Junta Troops Escape to China After KIA Attack
Burma

Myanmar Junta Troops Escape to China After KIA Attack

by Saw Reh
January 23, 2024
14.2k

The Kachin Independence Army says it seized around 30 regime soldiers in Mansi Township along the Chinese border. 

Read moreDetails
Brotherhood Alliance Warns Myanmar Junta That China-brokered Ceasefire is at Risk
Ethnic Issues

Brotherhood Alliance Warns Myanmar Junta That China-brokered Ceasefire is at Risk

by The Irrawaddy
March 6, 2024
11.3k

Imposition of martial law in three townships of northern Shan State controlled by a member of the Brotherhood Alliance could...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Military Loses Historic Outpost on Road to China in Kachin State
Burma

Myanmar Military Loses Historic Outpost on Road to China in Kachin State

by Hein Htoo Zan
April 1, 2024
11k

After more than 60 years of operation, the key junta outpost on the road linking Bhamo to the border with...

Read moreDetails
KIA Seizes Final Border Force HQ Despite Chinese Pressure
War Against the Junta

KIA Seizes Final Border Force HQ Despite Chinese Pressure

by The Irrawaddy
November 1, 2024
10.6k

The Kachin Independence Army has defeated all three Border Guard Force battalion headquarters along the Chinese frontier in Kachin State....

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Jade War: Junta Battling Intensely to Keep Hilltop Outpost
Burma

Myanmar Jade War: Junta Battling Intensely to Keep Hilltop Outpost

by Hein Htoo Zan
March 1, 2024
8.5k

Fighting for control of the lucrative jade mines in Kachin State now focused on a base atop a hill near...

Read moreDetails
KIA: 200 Myanmar Junta Positions Siezed in Four Months
War Against the Junta

KIA: 200 Myanmar Junta Positions Siezed in Four Months

by Brian Wei
July 27, 2024
8.2k

The Kachin Independence Army says it continues to advance towards Bhamo-Myitkyina, the two largest urban areas in Kachin State.

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
A band performs at an opening night party at Jazz in Time Music Bar. / Mayco Naing

The Irrawaddy’s Guide to Yangon Nightspots

Rohingya refugees collect water at Hakimpara refugee camp, in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, March 21, 2018.  / Reuters

Philippines’ Duterte Cites ‘Genocide’ in Myanmar, Says Will Take Refugees

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

1 week ago
1.8k
Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

1 week ago
1.8k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Changes Election Law Ahead of Polls

    Myanmar Junta Changes Election Law Ahead of Polls

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Residents of Myanmar Ruby Hub Speak Out as TNLA Mining Takes Toll

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Certifying a Chinese Security Invasion; Boosting Ties With Nuclear North Korea; and More

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar’s Aging Leaders Continue to Suffer in Junta Jails

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.