Myanmar Military Used Human Shields on Doomed Flotilla, Says KIA
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has accused the Myanmar military of using dozens of prisoners as human shields for a resupply flotilla returning from embattled Bhamo to Mandalay.
“The prisoners were deployed to extinguish fires and shield the vessels when clashes broke out,” KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy, citing testimony from survivors captured by the KIA.
He added that some were killed while others managed to reach shore as the flotilla was attacked by KIA-led resistance forces at Shwegu on the Irrawaddy River.
The Irrawaddy was unable to independently verify the claim.
A regime flotilla of 15 vessels, including gunboats, left Mandalay on August 21 to resupply and reinforce bases encircled by resistance units in Bhamo. The regime also permitted soldiers’ families to travel on the flotilla despite knowing it would likely be attacked by KIA-led forces, as in previous years.
The mission ended in disaster in early September, with only seven vessels limping into Bhamo after the rest were destroyed by resistance groups in Shwegu, where nearly 200 regime troops and family members surrendered.
Just days later, a second regime flotilla of around 10 vessels including gunboats attempted the same journey, only to be decimated at the Shwegu chokepoint.
Remnants of the flotillas reportedly picked up inmates from Bhamo jail as human shields for the return trip in mid-September, but were attacked again in Shwegu.
“The prisoners were told they would be set free if the fleet reached Mandalay,” said Naw Bu, adding that some were captured while others fled when the vessels were attacked. KIA media outlet Laiza TV reported that more than 70 human shields either fled or were captured during clashes.
KIA-led units reportedly sank or destroyed around 20 vessels in attacks on both flotillas.
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