The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has sealed off the house of junta-aligned militia leader Zahkung Ting Ying in his hometown of Pangwa on the Chinese border after taking control of the town, according to KIA spokesman Naw Bu.
Zahkung Ting Ying was not found in Pangwa, said Naw Bu.
“We don’t know where he is. He might be in China or Naypyitaw. We have seized control of the entire Pangwa town, and sealed off his house,” said KIA spokesman.
A former junior commander in the KIA, Zahkung Ting Ying led the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), which signed a truce with the previous regime and rebadged as the Border Guard Force (Kachin-BGF) in 2009, with three BGF battalions based respectively in Kanpiketi, Pangwa and Phimaw near the Chinese border.
In return, Zahkung Ting Ying was given control of the territory known as Kachin State Special Region 1. The region encompasses Chipwi, Tsawlaw, Pangwa, Kanpiketi and Waingmaw. Chipwi and Pangwa are rare earth mining hubs.
In June, the warlord issued an order to his BGF battalions and the militia groups he controls to crush KIA troops advancing on his territory.
The KIA has since seized Chipwi, Tsawlaw and Pangwa, plus two of the three BGF battalions.
Last week, it seized the headquarters of BGF Battalion 1002 in Lu Pyi Village, about 10 km from Pangwa.
On Monday, it captured the headquarters of BGF Battalion 1003 in Sin Kyaing (Shing Jai) Village on the Waingmaw-Sadung-Kanpiketi Road, around 9.6 km from Kanpiketi town as the crow flies.
“We seized the battalion at around 5 p.m. on Monday. Military tensions remain high on the ground,” said Naw Bu.
The KIA effectively cut off the trade route with China through Kanpiketi in June, when it captured Sadung town. In April, it seized another border trade town, Lwelgel, 310 km south of Sadung by road.
The KIA reportedly seized more than 500 units of large and small arms as well as piles of ammunition in Pangwa. Naw Bu said KIA troops subsequently overran a junta position north of the town.
At least eight military and BGF outposts remain along the China-Myanmar border north of Pangwa town, and the KIA has not attacked them yet, said Naw Bu.
After failing to persuade the KIA to halt its assaults on regime forces, China closed border crossings with Lwelgel, Laiza and Pajaung in KIA-controlled territory on Oct. 19, banning people and goods from crossing the border.
“They [China] have not exported fuel to this side for nearly a year. They have banned the export of consumer goods, and people from crossing the border. This does not create serious trouble for now. We have learnt to scrape through. But we don’t know what will happen if the ban lasts for a long time,” said Naw Bu.
China has also closed its border with Pangwa following the KIA’s seizure of the town.
Military observers expect the KIA will continue to fight for control of Kanpiketi and Phimaw, despite the pressure from China.
According to a report issued by London-based INGO Global Witness in May, revenues from selling rare earth in Kachin State Special Region 1 totaled US$1.4 billion last year.
