KIA prioritizes Hpakant benefits over local communities
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Phyo/ Thuta Kyaw (NP News)Dec 15
According to sources contacted by The Statesman, the KIA is resorting to acts that even trample on the people in order to keep their benefits of Hpakant.
Hpakant is a lucrative location for the KIA and is also linked to the interests of its top leaders. According to information obtained by The Statesman, within seven months of the Hpakant mining season, the two taxes collected under the headings of fuel and lubricants have generated about 100 billion kyats.
A source said that as the military is currently conducting offensives to regain control of Hpakant, the KIA has been modifying in laying mines, causing concern among the local population.
It is learned that during the period when the Tatmadaw was conducting offensives in Hpakant, there were attempts to place bombs inside fruit salad carts and mines inside betel quid stands to carry out attacks,
“Earlier they have planted a bomb inside a fruit salad cart. They often place bombs like that. They even plant them near houses, along the roads, so people get scared. Since these people regularly do such things, residents run away in fear when unfamiliar items such as betel-quid stands or fruit salad carts show up in front of their houses, and end up in trouble” the source said.
Another source said that even if an unusual object arrives in front of the house, people feel anxious, and are afraid to touch it.
“The main issue is that disguising objects like this and planting mines might be one thing if there were an ongoing battle. But now, they have simply planted mines like this. Whether the Tatmadaw comes or not, the mines are planted. When mines are planted indiscriminately, if an ordinary civilian happens to step on one, he will be killed or injured. In a sense, it’s a form of trampling on the people. It seems like a tactic to keep control of the town at all costs. Another thing is that the KIA has been aggressively recruiting new members. They are already giving training now. There are also many casualties on the Bhamo side. So in any case, one can say that the people are the ones being trampled,” he said.
However, it seems that the KIA are determined to fiercely defend Hpakant, where most of their interests lie.
“The KIA will protect it as much as can because it is in their own interest. They will not easily give up control of Hpakant,” he said. –