Many military junta troops and their family members have surrendered to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) after military junta vessels traveling upriver toward Bhamo, Kachin State, came under attack, according to local reports.
Around 15 military junta vessels traveling upriver along the Ayeyarwady River from Gaw Wein Port in Mandalay were attacked by the KIA and allied forces near Shwegu Township, Kachin State. One vessel sank and four others were damaged by fire, according to reports.
Of the four vessels that caught fire, two reportedly docked and surrendered to the KIA.
The military junta had sent troops and their families to the Bhamo military base under the stated plan of carrying out reconstruction work. Around 100 people have now reportedly surrendered to the KIA.
“People surrendered from the military vessels, although military lobbyists have denied it. The KIA has also not issued an official statement yet. However, dependents and family members of Military Operations Command No. 21 were on board from Gaw Wein Port. They were sent along because they were supposed to carry out construction work at the Bhamo military base after arriving there. But things did not go as planned, and now the family members have also ended up surrendering. Since it involved around two military vessels, we estimate that there were about 100 people,” former Captain Zin Yaw, a military affairs analyst and CDM officer, told IMNA.
He added that seven military vessels have currently reached Bhamo, meaning that around half of the vessels have been damaged in attacks by the KIA and allied forces.
Military-backed Telegram channels have claimed that the KIA was only able to harass and fire at the military vessels. They have also accused the KIA of spreading propaganda by combining the incident with reports of raising flags at gold-mining machinery.
IMNA attempted to contact Colonel Naw Bu, the KIA information officer, by phone to verify reports of military junta troops and their family members surrendering and to learn about the current military situation, but he could not be reached.
“The Kachin Independence Army and allied forces had been systematically waiting in advance to intercept these vessels. Their attacks were successful. They used heavy weapons and large anti-aircraft machine guns and were able to fire directly at close range. The river is narrow, probably only about 100 meters wide. The vessels were caught between the two sides and came under direct fire,” Captain Zin Yaw said.
Meanwhile, intense fighting is continuing between the military junta and KIA-allied forces in Hsinhkan and Sin Bon areas of Bhamo Township, according to local sources.
