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Burma steps up military offensive against Kachin rebels Burma steps up military offensive against Kachin rebels
(35 minutes later)
Three civilians have been killed and at least four wounded after the Burmese military launched artillery strikes on the town used by Kachin rebels as their headquarters. Three civilians have been killed and at least four wounded after the Burmese military launched artillery strikes on the town used by Kachin rebels as their headquarters.
The deaths are the first reported in Laiza since rebels and the army resumed fighting in 2011 after almost two decades of peace, although the guerrilla stronghold has been repeatedly shelled since the government began a fresh offensive against Kachin state last month.The deaths are the first reported in Laiza since rebels and the army resumed fighting in 2011 after almost two decades of peace, although the guerrilla stronghold has been repeatedly shelled since the government began a fresh offensive against Kachin state last month.
A rebel with the Kachin Independence Army, told Associated Press that three shells struck central Laiza early on Monday. One fell near four men who were warming themselves beside a bonfire, killing one immediately. Another shell landed on a house, killing a 15-year-old boy. Another two children were wounded in the strikes, the rebel said. A rebel with the Kachin Independence Army told the Associated Press that three shells struck central Laiza early on Monday. One fell near four men who were warming themselves beside a bonfire, killing one immediately. Another shell landed on a house, killing a 15-year-old boy. Another two children were wounded in the strikes, the rebel said.
According to a rebel in Laiza who spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity, town residents have begun digging trenches and shelters to protect themselves from the attacks. According to a rebel in Laiza who spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity, town residents have begun digging trenches and shelters to protect themselves from the attacks.
"[The army] has been using fighter jets and helicopters every day, at least two or three fighter jets and two helicopters, but on 28 December they used five fighter jets and two helicopters, so it seems they are trying to attack all the important outposts around Laiza, which are security for the headquarters," the rebel said."[The army] has been using fighter jets and helicopters every day, at least two or three fighter jets and two helicopters, but on 28 December they used five fighter jets and two helicopters, so it seems they are trying to attack all the important outposts around Laiza, which are security for the headquarters," the rebel said.
"They are saying they won't take Laiza but if all the outposts fall then what about Laiza? They are attacking us like foreign invaders, not like [this is] a conflict between our own government and one of its ethnic groups.""They are saying they won't take Laiza but if all the outposts fall then what about Laiza? They are attacking us like foreign invaders, not like [this is] a conflict between our own government and one of its ethnic groups."
The government claims its attacks on Burma's northernmost Kachin state, which include the use of helicopters and jet fighters, were launched in self-defence after rebels rejected a government demand in December that they allow supply convoys to reach an army base. Rebels attacked the convoys, saying the supplies included ammunition that could be used to take their headquarters, which are located close to the government base and accessed by the same road. The government claims its attacks on Burma's northernmost Kachin state, which include the use of helicopters and jet fighters, were launched in self-defence after rebels rejected its demand in December that they allow supply convoys to reach an army base. Rebels attacked the convoys, saying the supplies included ammunition that could be used to take their headquarters, which are located close to the government base and accessed by the same road.
More recently, rebels claimed over the weekend they had shot down a government helicopter, but the army claimed the helicopter crashed due to engine failure. More recently, rebels claimed over the weekend that they had shot down a government helicopter, but the army claimed the helicopter crashed due to engine failure.
Both the US and UN have condemned the government's air strikes.Both the US and UN have condemned the government's air strikes.
The escalating conflict has soured Burma's seeming efforts for peace in a nation that only recently put an end to nearly five decades of military rule. The Kachin Independence Army is the only major ethnic rebel group not to have reached a ceasefire agreement with President Thein Sein, who came to power in 2011 and has since instituted a series of sweeping economic and political reforms.The escalating conflict has soured Burma's seeming efforts for peace in a nation that only recently put an end to nearly five decades of military rule. The Kachin Independence Army is the only major ethnic rebel group not to have reached a ceasefire agreement with President Thein Sein, who came to power in 2011 and has since instituted a series of sweeping economic and political reforms.
The Kachin, like many other ethnic minorities, have long sought greater autonomy from the central government and are a Christian-majority population in Buddhist-majority Burma.The Kachin, like many other ethnic minorities, have long sought greater autonomy from the central government and are a Christian-majority population in Buddhist-majority Burma.
Experts have questioned how much control Thein Sein has over the Burmese army, which is integral to the nation's continued reforms. In a recent statement by the state-run New Light of Myanmar, Thein Sein lauded the army for its "sacrifices in blood and sweat" and its efforts "to make positive contributions to the peace process". Experts have questioned how much control Thein Sein has over the Burmese army, which is integral to the nation's continued reforms. In a recent statement by the state-run New Light of Myanmar, Thein Sein lauded the army for its "sacrifices in blood and sweat" and its efforts "to make positive contributions to the peace process".
100,000 Kachin have been displaced since the conflict reignited in 2011, most of them residing in camps near Laiza. According to the Global Times, China's Yunnan province, which borders Kachin state, has prepared four camps capable of holding more than 10,000 refugees in preparation for worsening violence. But the Burmese news site The Irrawaddy reported that China had closed its borders to prevent refugees from entering the country. An estimated 100,000 Kachin have been displaced since the conflict reignited in 2011, most of them residing in camps near Laiza. According to the Global Times, China's Yunnan province, which borders Kachin state, has prepared four camps capable of holding more than 10,000 refugees in preparation for worsening violence. But the Burmese news site The Irrawaddy reported that China had closed its borders to prevent refugees from entering the country.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei renewed Beijing's call for the Burmese government and rebels to resume negotiations. He declined to comment on reports that China had sent troops to the border, saying only that China had taken unspecified measures to protect its frontier. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, renewed Beijing's call for the Burmese government and rebels to resume negotiations. He declined to comment on reports that China had sent troops to the border, saying only that China had taken unspecified measures to protect its frontier.
"China has already taken measures necessary to step up control over the border area and protect the lives and property of the border people," Hong said."China has already taken measures necessary to step up control over the border area and protect the lives and property of the border people," Hong said.