KIA Wants Peace Despite Fresh Bloodshed

Q: How are you going to handle electricity distribution in Myitkyina as it was taken care of by the KIO?

A: Our electricity distribution prioritizes people living in Myitkyina and Waingmaw cities. We don't make any profit from the distribution, which is handled by the KIO's company Bokha Co. Ltd. Our company obtained an official permit from the then State Law and Order Restoration Council and opened an office in Myitkyina. We called back our members from that office on June 10 as well but we couldn't shut it down completely because local people there would be in great trouble.

There are civilian employees in the office so we asked them to continue the distribution. We only withdrew our members who are in leading positions. The remaining staff are not KIO members so I don't think it will be any major risk for them to stay. We have only made losses in electricity distribution but have continued just for the comfort of local people.

Q: How about the situation in Laiza where the KIO headquarters are based?

Before talking about this, let me continue what I was saying earlier. It seems that they [government troops] want to capture the mountain where our Battalion 15 is stationed by hook or by crook. It seems that they want to be based there. That's why they used all their troops available in Kachin State to attack that place. For us, we want to reduce the clashes—we want no clashes at all. So, we only resisted their offensive with the strength we had in Battalion 15 and didn't make the fighting bigger by adding more of our troops from elsewhere.

Our Battalion 25 is stationed within sight of Battalion 15. I think they have deployed about ten battalions, moving back and forth to attack us. We considered the current problem quite big enough and there would be battles across the Kachin State if we deployed more troops, that's why we didn't do so.

I am not sure if they were concerned about the deployment of our troops from Laiza or have other plans, but they have certainly deployed more and more troops. For instance, they have carried heavy weapons from Myitkyna and blocked our exits. Based on their movements, I can say that they are likely to expand the battles while we are trying not to engage in further clashes.

Q: Will it be possible to regain a ceasefire agreement between the two parties?

A: A former minister from Naypyidaw rang us on Sunday. I don't want to mention his name. He called one of us and asked him to control our troops. He said if we don't the whole country may become embroiled in war and that he will discuss the matter with the president. Our man replied that there will be many changes within the next two days and they must stop their offensive and reduce their plans for attack if they are really willing for no more clashes. [The former minister] then said he will report back to his seniors in their meeting [on Monday] and let us know how it goes. But we have not received any reply so far.