Eight year-old killed in Myanmar skirmishes after peace talks

Eight year-old killed in Myanmar skirmishes after peace talks

Published on Sunday, 10 November 2013 01:26

BHAMO-Two days after the peace talks in Myanmar's Kachin State, skirmishes broke out on November 7 in the state's Bhamo District that ended the death of an eight year-old child, according to local people.

The child from Kaung Lwin Village in the district was killed after a skirmish broke out near the village, locals say.

A troop from Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has been camping at the village, more than 40 miles away from Bhamo Town since a week ago and the fighting started on that morning after the government troops demanded the KIA troop to move away from the village, they say.

Both sides confirmed the fighting.

An official from the government army confirmed that a child was killed in a skirmish between the government troops and a 70-strong troop from KIA.

An unnamed official from KIA side said that the government troops began attacking their troop in the village and skirmishes also broke out in other villages such as Man Thar and Pyoke Kyaik, but gave no details about the casualties. 

"It's a girl, but we don't know whose daughter she was. More than 500 villagers from Kaung Lwin fled their village and now are in Se Khan Gyi Village. They are now in trouble as they took almost nothing in fleeing from their village in this cold winter. They dare not go back as mines are placed all around in their village," said a Bhamo resident who went there to give help. 

Also a few days ago, more than 300 villagers from a nearby village named Mone Dainpar took shelter at the refugee camp in Bhamo.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/eight-year-old-killed-in-myanmar-skirmishes-after-peace-talks/