Burmese troops try to enter KIO areas for dam security

More Burmese troops are trying to enter the controlled areas of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) in Kachin State, northern Burma, to provide security for a dam construction project, KIO officials said.


The huge dam project is at the Irrawaddy River’s Confluence, known as Mali-N’mai Zup (Myitsone in Burmese).


More Burmese troops have operated near the KIO-controlled areas in the eastern region of the Irrawaddy River (Mali Hka in Kachin) since early February, said KIO officials in its Laiza headquarters, in eastern Kachin State.




Burmese Army squads, some with over 10 men and some with more than 100 men are operating separately along the borders of two battalions of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the military branch of the KIO--- No. 5 based in N’Jang Yang Township and No. 3 in Waingmaw Township,
KIA sources said.


KIA officials in the areas said fighting nearly broke out between the two armies in early March. However, Burmese troops withdrew when the KIA warned them they would be fired upon if they entered the KIO-controlled areas.


The KIO said the junta has not officially asked for permission to install electrical-power poles, transformers and cable from Chipwi hydropower plant to the Myitsone hydropower plant, through the KIO areas.


The smaller hydropower plant in N’Mai Hka River, in Chipwe, is under construction and some of the electricity produced is to be delivered to the larger Myitsone hydropower project along Chipwi-Washawng-Myitkyina, according to local dam watchdogs.


Preparations for delivery of electricity over the 60 mile distance started last February, local eyewitnesses said.


With the support of the military government and the Asian World Company, owned by former Burmese drug lord, Loh Hsing Han, the state-owned China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) is currently constructing the Myitsone dam project and six dams in waterheads of the Irrawaddy River, Mali Hka River and the N’Mai Hka River.


Most of the 17,160 mega watts generated from the seven dams will be sold to China by the Burmese regime.


However, the Kachin people and the KIO reject the construction of the seven dams in Kachin State because they were not consulted.


The KIO will not allow Burmese troops to enter its controlled areas, said KIO officials at Laiza HQ.


Source:http://kachinnews.com/news/1872-burmese-troops-try-to-enter-kio-areas-for-dam-security.html