Tuesday, 19 June 2012 14:02 | Mizzima News
At last five firefights occurred on Monday between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burma's armed forces after two government army columns were sent to the area as reinforcements, according to an article on Monday by the Kachin News Group (KNG).
In a related action, KNG said tensions are building in Kachin State after government troops blocked Stilwell Rd., also known as Ledo Rd., connecting Myitkyina with Danai, on Monday. The Burmese army blocked travel on the road due to “massive unidentified alien combatants controlling the movement of civilians in Hpakant Township,” it said.
This week in Hpakant Township the government suspended all ruby crystal mining operations and warned civilians to return to their homes by June 20. Since then, the Burmese military have intensely reinforced their military positions in the area.
The travel restrictions on the Ledo road and other places in the region are creating problems for residents who are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a livelihood, said the report.