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19 June 2011

STATE-OWNED NEWSPAPERS CONFESS THE ARMED CONFLICT IN NORTHERN BURMA

Rangoon, June 18 - The three state-owned newspapers of this mornings issue for the first time made public the ongoing armed conflicts between the Kachin Independence Army ( KIA ) and the Tatmadaw (military) in Burma over the construction of seven hydropower dams between Maykha and Maylikha ( the two tributaries ) of Irrawaddy River in Kachin State. The KIA, which is believed to be 8000 strong armed force, is the military arm of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), which was once the ceasefire group. Ever since the KIO objected to 2008 State Constitution for lack of their demand for autonomy for the Kachin State, it has become a rebel group again. According to major news published by this mornings newspapers, the troops belonging to KIA have become making threats to Chinese workers working on Lahsa Hydropower project on the east bank of the Malikha River and Tarpein Hydropower project since April 16 this year. The news item described the Tarpein Hydropower project as the joint venture project between Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power No. (1) and Datang (Yunnan) United Hydropower Developing (DUHD) Company of China stating that the two sides have invested heavily in this project. Because of threats issued by KIA, quite a number of Chinese staff working on Lahsa Hydropower project and 215 Chinese employees assigned to construction of Tarpein Hydropower project close to Bhamo, a major town in Kachin State, have gone back to China within the five-day period from 9th to 14th June this year, said the news. The news also said the KIA troops opened fire on military columns guarding these projects and blew up 25 bridges in Kachin State within the period from 14th to 16th June. Such destructive acts of KIA severely harm interests of the region and the nation, destabilizing tranquility of local people and seriously damaging transport facilities, the news said. Among quite a number of armed clashes between KIA troops and the regimes military units, the news threw limelight on the way a military column got to attack KIA camp near Tarpein Hydropower project on June 11 this year and took hold of this camp the next day. The news also mentioned how KIA even detained two military officers, whom the military had to take back after armed clash. Strangely the news did not reveal casualties so far suffered by both sides.

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A U P 19 J une 2011

Most importantly the news said, the State Constitution could be amended in accordance with the procedures. The government has publicly announced that it would open the door of peace to welcome those who are holding different views if they wish to cooperate with the government in mutually concerned cases for the interests of the nation, the news concluded. #### ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three POWs from the regimes LIB 437 detained by KIA troops on June 8 were handed over to the regime forces at 6.30 pm on June 9.

Capt. Myat Ko Ko

Lt. Ko Ko Win

Private Ye Naing

POW Lance Cop. Chan Yein from Regiment (15) of KIA arrested by the regimes forces was severely tortured to death and the corpse was handed to 2.55 pm on June 10.

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A U P 19 J une 2011

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