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Myanmar

Govt forces ‘kill civilians’ in Kachin State: NGO

Free Burma Rangers, a frontline provider of medical aid to displaced civilians in Myanmar, has highlighted continued incidents of aggression by government forces despite the signing of a draft peace agreement between the opposing forces, according to a report in Karen News on April 3.

FBR said attacks are continuing including an incident on March 23 in which soldiers from the 10th Infantry Battalion allegedly killed a father, his wife and their son at Du Hku village, Kachin State. The village is located close to Kachin Independence Army positions.

The Kachin conflict erupted in June 2011 when the Myanmar military attacked Kachin Independence Army positions, shattering a 17-year-long ceasefire.

“Despite recent meetings between senior representatives of the Kachin Independence Organization, President U Thein Sein and Burma Army military head Min Aung Hlaing to discuss a potential ceasefire agreement, incidents of aggression by the Burma Army have increased to levels not seen since initial fighting in 2011,” FBR said in a media statement.

FBR said it witnessed repeated air attacks from helicopter gunships and jet fighters throughout March.

A 2012 report by Human Rights Watch estimated that fighting in Kachin State had displaced 100,000 civilians. It also accused government forces of raping, torturing and killing civilians.