Burmese Army Acquires Chinese Military Equipment Amid Peace Talks
KNL 22.02.2014
Local sources in Muse, a gateway town border with China’s Ruili, today reported that they saw 22 wheeler trucks which are common carriers in China transporting mobile artillery transport vehicles from China side of the border to Muse. At least 12 trucks have been seen traveling from Muse to Lashio, northern Shan State’s capital where Burmese army’s Northeast Regional Command is headquartered, at around 11 am, the sources said.
On February 19, a convoy of over 100 military trucks transported infantry soldiers, food, ammunition and other military equipment from Kachin State capital Myitkyina to Gang Dau Yang and Nam San Yang village. About 20 Burmese military trucks fully loaded with combat prepared troops travelled from Bhamo to Nam San Yang on the same day.
Local eyewitnesses said another 160 military trucks loaded with troops, food, artillery, ammunition and 50 small boats head out towards Sumpra Bum from Myitkyina in this week.
Burmese army has steadily increased its military presence in the whole Kachin and northern Shan State despite ongoing peace negotiations with ethnic armed groups. There has been an increase in the number of troops deployed in KIA’s 6th Battalion area in jade-rich Hpakant. Sources say more infantry units from a new Light Infantry Division (LID) are expected to deploy in Hpakant to reinforce current infantry units under Pakokku-based 101st LID.
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