(Loose compilation of news articles from various pro-KIA and
pro-Army sites.)
Dead KIA soldier on the Kharyarbon peak (24 Jan 2013). |
The
Kharyarbon Peak is the highest position on the Kharyarbon Range overlooking the
KIA’s last stronghold and headquarters Laiza on the Chinese border. Once
Kharyarbon is captured KIA is basically trapped at Laiza and their only way out
is into China.
Despite
their real status as a guerrilla army KIA has firmly positioned itself on the
well-established border town of Laiza and prospered during last ceasefire (almost
18 years long) with Burmese. But now they are paying for their strategic
mistake after unilaterally scrapping that ceasefire and resuming the brutal
civil war started more than 50 years ago in 1961.
The KIA forward camps defending their Laiza HQ have been captured one after another within a very short period by the troops of attacking Burmese army waging an overwhelming operation against KIA since the beginning of this year.
The KIA forward camps defending their Laiza HQ have been captured one after another within a very short period by the troops of attacking Burmese army waging an overwhelming operation against KIA since the beginning of this year.
Burmese Army and KIA positions near Laiza before 30 Dec 2012 and after 7 Jan 2013. |
According
to a senior KIA officer Burmese army started the ground-shaking artillery
barrage at about 1:30 on January 24 and unleashed the overwhelming ground
attack at about 4 in the late afternoon. By then army’s 105 mm howitzers has
stopped shelling on Kharyarbon but continued shelling on the KIA HQ at Laiza.
Apparently
Burmese has planned to take Kharyarbon within a day and they are using ground
forces 40 times more numerous than KIA’s defending troops, he added.
“Since 13:30 today our Kharyabon range is under a continuous
artillery barrage that almost blew our eardrums off. We noticed the shells are
landing at the rate of four a minute. The shelling stopped only at 16:00. We
don’t suffer that much physically except our ears. Once the artillery’d stopped
their ground troops charged at our positions.”
Only
relief for KIA compared to other assaults such as Lajaryan attack was lack of
air support on the Burmese side. Burmese seems to be now reluctant to use their
jet fighters and helicopter gunships on KIA positions. International
condemnations especially from the US embassy in Rangoon have apparently brought
the reluctant-restraints on Burmese side.
KIA men removing one of their dead comrades killed by the barrage. |
KIA men mourning one of their dead comrades killed by the barrage. |
A Shell-shocked KIA soldier receiving an injection (Morphine?). |
A KIA soldier shooting back at uphill-bayonet-charging Burmese. |
A foreign journalist (from BBC?) hiding inside a bunker. |
(LID) Light Infantry Division - 101. |
The light
infantry battalions LIB-250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, and 259 originally
about 500 strong each battalion are now depleted to 130 most in each battalion.
The whole battalion of LIB-258 was killed or wounded on the slopes of
Kharyarbon.
Burmese
newspapers last few days are filled with sad obituaries of young Burmese army
officers. Lieutenants, captains, and even the majors are recently filling the
columns of obituaries. And the
extraordinary thing is many Burmese are honouring their fallen heroes of
Burmese army.
The photos of young Major Soe Shwe Phyo the fallen Executive Officer (2IC) of a completely-wiped-out Burmese LIB now adorned so many face book pages set up by the patriotic young Burmese. Young major has left his young wife almost 8-month pregnant with their first son. The mourning poem written by one of his DSA-42 classmates also is widely circulated among Burmese blogs and face book pages.
The photos of young Major Soe Shwe Phyo the fallen Executive Officer (2IC) of a completely-wiped-out Burmese LIB now adorned so many face book pages set up by the patriotic young Burmese. Young major has left his young wife almost 8-month pregnant with their first son. The mourning poem written by one of his DSA-42 classmates also is widely circulated among Burmese blogs and face book pages.
January 2013 Obituary for Major Soe Shwe Phyo (DSA-42). |
Death notices for Major Phyo Oo Nyein, Captain Kyaw Htun Naung, and Sergeant Kyaw Khiang Win on 28 January 2013. |
Burmese dead on the cleared-slopes of Kharyarbon Range (25 Jan 2013). |
Kharyarbon Peak completely ravaged by the barrage. |
Ravaged
by Burmese army’s continuous shelling the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has
been pushed from its Lagatbon post located on Kharyarbon mountain range on Jan
26 at around 1 pm. Kharyarbon is one of the highest peak in the mountain range
surrounding KIO’s administrative capital Laiza.
Almost
all the trees in the whole mountain range are destroyed by the shelling, said a
front-line source. A Laiza resident says, “Since
Burmese forces overrun Kharyarbon, there is a resounding silence in Laiza and
its surrounding area for the very bfirst time in 2013.”
Kachin
Capital security forces and combat troops stationed at Kharyarbon have been
pounded with one of the heaviest artillery shells for weeks. On Jan 16 and 17,
two Burmese army’s fighter jets fired with rockets on KIA positions on Kharyarbon.
A
combined force of at least 10 infantry battalions and combat commandos began
their ground attacks on KIA post once the artillery shelling stopped. The
shelling continued again for long hours after ground troops advanced a few
meters, said Kachin front-line source.
On Jan 24
alone, Burmese army’s artillery units stationed at nearby mountains fired more
than 1,600 times. KIO’s spokesperson U La Nan said, “Thursday artillery shelling by Burmese army is a record high since the
beginning of the war”.
Losing the
Kharyarbon range is a major blow to KIA but Kachin officials are still
confident that their headquarters are secure enough from Burmese army’s
immediate threats. Local observers say fighting will likely continue in nearby
areas as troops from both sides confusingly mingle in the area.
But the army advance means government troops are now just 3km
away from KIA HQ at Laiza, with no more lines of defence in front of them KIA
now being pressed up against the China borderline.
Kharyarbon Range overshadowing the KIA's Laiza Town at night. |
Laiza Town and Laiza KIA Headquarters. |
Lajaryan Range and Kharyarbon Range at adjacent west of Laiza Town. |
After the
bridge the right branch of the road goes to Laiza and the left branch goes to
Lajaryan on the Bamaw-Myitkyinar Road. Probably Burmese army will stay on the
west bank as Moe Lae Creek is becoming a demarcated line between Burmese army
and the KIA trapped in Laiza hard-pressed against the Chinese borderline.
The bridge over Moe Lae Creek near Laiza town on Chinese borderline. |
Laiza Town Gate near KIA HQ in Laiza just beyond the Moe Lae Bridge. |
Burmese Army's fortified bunker overlooking the bridge (28 Jan 2013). |
Burmese soldiers milling around near the Moe Lae Creek Bridge in Laiza. |
Victorious Burmese Soldiers at Laiza Town Gate (January 2013). |
Related posts at
following links:
Lajaryan fell and Laiza surrounded by Burmese Army