Civilians flee as fighting rages in Kachin State jade mining town

Residents of Hpakant Township in Kachin State told DVB that villagers fled their homes as around 200 regime troops clashed with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Maw Wan Lay village, a jade-mining area north of Hpakant and 94 miles (151 km) west of the state capital Myitkyina, on Monday. 

“Besides Maw Wan Lay, there was fighting between the KIA and regime forces at the Mawsisar [village] pagoda hill on the same day,” a resident with knowledge of the fighting told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Mawsisar village is located six miles (9 km) northeast of Hpakant town.