Looting Rampant as Myanmar Regime Battles for Control of Jade Mining Hub

Marauding regime troops have reportedly gone on a looting spree after capturing the Lone Khin village tract in the jade mining hub of Hpakant in Kachin State from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and resistance allies.

“Regime forces are looting every valuable item including money, mobile phones, watches and jewelry from anyone they see on the road,” a Hpakant source told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. “They don’t even spare small peddlers.”

Since the morning of April 19, around 300 to 500 regime soldiers and allied Warazup militia have been advancing into the sprawling Lone Khin–Maw Si Sar village tracts, taking positions at road junctions and in civilian homes, according to reports.

The offensive came after the junta lost control of some strategic hilltop positions in the south of Hpakant to the KIA.

Local outlet Uru Daily News reported that regime forces on Sunday robbed a group of jade mining company workers who were shopping in the village of their mobile phones and cash.

On Tuesday, regime forces from Lone Khin advanced into nearby settlements, randomly shelling surrounding forest aeras, but no clashes were reported with resistance groups, according to the Hpakant resident.

Another local said regime forces “have set up a base at the monastery on Maw Si Sar hill and marched through the villages carrying weapons. Some are staying in guesthouses and apartments. They’ve also been spreading the message that they’re going to carry out clearance operations across the area.”

On Sunday, clashes were reported near a cultural center for Rakhine migrant workers in Lone Khin and around Aung Tharyar, with the military and KIA joint forces. Fighting continued Monday with the use of drones and heavy weapons.

Also on Sunday, a regime reinforcement column heading to Hpakant was ambushed with landmines by KIA-allied forces near Malan Cemetery on the Hpakant–Kamaing road. Local sources said there were casualties on the regime side, but this has not been independently confirmed by The Irrawaddy.

The regime offensive followed the KIA’s capture of two Warazup bases along the Tanai road on April 18. A military source in Hpakant said, “After the Warazup bases were seized, artillery fire was launched at night. In the morning, troops advanced and entered Lone Khin and Maw Si Sar.”

The current fighting in Hpakant started up on April 2, with the military regime trying to recapture KIA-controlled areas, using both airstrikes and ground forces.

Atrocities have been rampant. On April 14, regime forces reportedly executed an injured resistance fighter from the Naga’s People’s Defense Force (NPDF).

They then dumped the body at a junction in Hpakant town along with three Rakhine migrant workers they had arrested and killed the same day.