Recruits of the K.I.A. National Service during daily morning exercise in Laiza, the K.I.A. headquarters in Kachin State, Myanmar. Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent
By Vilhelm Stokstad – Over the last couple of months, the Burmese military has intensified its attacks on rebel groups in north and northeastern Burma. According to rebel sources, the military has been trying to drive a wedge between the different KIA brigades that protect the rebel headquarters in Laiza.
There are daily shelling of KIA outposts along the frontline. Injured rebells arrive at the military hospital in Laiza several times a week, with shrapnel wounds and landmine injuries as proof of the attacks.
The escalation in fighting comes despite new attempts at peace talks between the country’s ethnic armed groups, the military and the government. On September 14th, president Barack Obama announced he was prepared to lift the US’ long-standing economic sanctions on Burma.
On September 30th, the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon released a statement saying it was ”deeply concerned by the ongoing fighting” and urged ”relevant authorities to adhere strictly to their responsibility to protect civilians”. The Embassy statement also said that the ”increase in conflict” has ”the potential to undermine the progress and goodwill generated by the recent Union Peace Conference”.
Laiza 20160915
Recruits of the K.I.A. National Service during daily morning exercise in Laiza, the K.I.A. headquarters in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentMai Ja Yang 20160910
Two K.I.A Rebells at one of their outposts near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State in Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentMai Ja Yang 20160910
Lieutenant Brang Seng of the Kachin Independence Army having a smoke at a base camp near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentMai Ja Yang 20160911
K.I.A. rebells at Lagat Bum, a frontline outpost near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentMai Ja Yang 20160910
K.I.A. rebells passing a sign warning for mines between two of their outposts near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentMai Ja Yang 20160911
Overview of Lagat Bum, one of the K.I.A. frontline outposts near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentMai Ja Yang 20160909
K.I.A Rebells getting ready to drive back to their base from one of their outposts near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentMai Ja Yang 20160911
Lieutenant Brang Seng looks out over enemy territory from Lagat Bom, one of the K.I.A. outposts near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160915
Lazum Htoi San, a K.I.A. rebell injured in a Burmese army shelling of Tsin Yu Bum, a mountain top with a frontline outpost, arriving at the army hospital in Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160915
Lazum Htoi San, a K.I.A. rebell injured in a Burmese army shelling of Tsin Yu Bum, a mountain top with a frontline outpost, has just arrived at the army hospital in Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160915
A K.I.A. rebell injured in a Burmese army shelling of Tsin Yu Bum, a mountain top with a frontline outpost, getting emergency treatment at the army hospital in Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160915
Lazum Htoi San, a K.I.A. rebell injured in a Burmese army shelling of Tsin Yu Bum, a mountain top with a frontline outpost, getting emergency treatment at the army hospital in Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentMai Ja Yang 20160911
K.I.A. rebells at Lagat Bum, a frontline outpost near Mai Ja Yang in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160911
A group of children passes a K.I.A. rebell truck on their way to school in Laiza, Kachin state, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160915
Galau Hka Mais, a K.I.A. rebell injured in a Burmese army shelling of Tsin Yu Bum, a mountain top with a frontline outpost, getting emergency treatment at the army hospital in Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160915
Shrapnel found after the Burmese army shellings of Tsin Yu Bum, a mountain top with a frontline outpost, near Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160915
Lazum Htoi San, a K.I.A. rebell injured in a Burmese army shelling of Tsin Yu Bum, a mountain top with a frontline outpost, after getting emergency treatment at the army hospital in Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / KontinentLaiza 20160915
Recruits of the National Service during daily morning workout in Laiza, the K.I.A. headquarters in Kachin State, Myanmar.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent
