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Kachin rebels have lost the last major stronghold protecting their headquarters in Laiza, sparking fears that the town — under rebel control for the past 50 years — may soon fall to government troops and force refugees into China.
The outpost of Hka Ya Bum, the most strategic peak in a mountain range five miles west of Laiza, fell on Saturday after days of heavy bombardment by the Burmese forced rebel soldiers with the Kachin Independence Army to withdraw to positions farther south.
Officials in Afghanistan say at least 10 people — including eight police officers — were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.
At least two men who had been detained by the police were also killed in the explosion late January 26 in the southern city of Kandahar.
Three armed Taliban were killed in clash by Afghan security forces.
Interior ministry press office said to BNA, the Afghan security forces in the last 24 hours conducted 8 cleaning up operations in the outskirts of Daikundi, Badakhshan, Jouzjan, Kandahar, Zabul, Farah and Helmand provinces, in which three armed Taliban were killed, 13 others including two commanders of them arrested.
Fighting broke out between the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) and Burmese government forces on Wednesday morning, said Daw Bawk Ja, an MP and the National Democratic Force (NDF).
The skirmish between Kachin troops and the government army lasted for one hour and civilians were forced to evacuate their homes in the Hpakant Township in the Gin Si village, she said. This follows President Thein Sein’s January 19 directive for a ceasefire.
One soldier died while five were wounded Tuesday after a landmine allegedly planted by leftist rebels hit two military vehicles in the southern Philippine province of Davao Oriental.
According to Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, soldiers from the Peace and Development Teams of 28th Infantry Battalion were on board the military vehicles when the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked them at Calapagan village in Lupon town around 12:20 am, local time.