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| Myanmar Military Admits to Airstrikes on Kachin Rebels | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s military acknowledged on Wednesday that it had been carrying out airstrikes against ethnic Kachin rebels in the northern part of the country, and said it had captured a hilltop post from which the insurgents attacked government supply convoys. | YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s military acknowledged on Wednesday that it had been carrying out airstrikes against ethnic Kachin rebels in the northern part of the country, and said it had captured a hilltop post from which the insurgents attacked government supply convoys. |
| The statement contradicted denials by the government two days earlier, and raised questions about how much control the elected civilian government of President Thein Sein has over the army. | The statement contradicted denials by the government two days earlier, and raised questions about how much control the elected civilian government of President Thein Sein has over the army. |
| In Washington, Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokeswoman, said the use of air power against the Kachins was “extremely troubling,” and she called on the government and the rebels to cease their conflict and begin a real dialogue for peace. | In Washington, Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokeswoman, said the use of air power against the Kachins was “extremely troubling,” and she called on the government and the rebels to cease their conflict and begin a real dialogue for peace. |
| Myanmar state television, quoting the Defense Ministry, said troops occupied a Kachin Independence Army hilltop post on Sunday that had been used to block the army’s supply lines to a base at Lajayang, which is very close to the rebel headquarters at Laiza. | Myanmar state television, quoting the Defense Ministry, said troops occupied a Kachin Independence Army hilltop post on Sunday that had been used to block the army’s supply lines to a base at Lajayang, which is very close to the rebel headquarters at Laiza. |
| The government delivered an ultimatum to the Kachin rebels in December to clear a road by Dec. 25 so the army could supply its base. The Kachin rejected the ultimatum for fear of a government attack on their own post. | The government delivered an ultimatum to the Kachin rebels in December to clear a road by Dec. 25 so the army could supply its base. The Kachin rejected the ultimatum for fear of a government attack on their own post. |
| A rebel spokesman, La Nan, said on Monday that the supplies being sent to government troops there included ammunition as well as rice. | A rebel spokesman, La Nan, said on Monday that the supplies being sent to government troops there included ammunition as well as rice. |
| “We will obstruct any army convoy that carries arms and ammunition that will be used against us,” he said. “This is the nature of war.” | “We will obstruct any army convoy that carries arms and ammunition that will be used against us,” he said. “This is the nature of war.” |
| Each side blames the other for an increase in fighting that began in late December. | Each side blames the other for an increase in fighting that began in late December. |
| The Kachin said Monday that they were being attacked by helicopter gunships and fighter jets, but Maj. Zaw Htay, director of the president’s office, said the aircraft were being used mainly to supply government units whose access to supplies by road had been cut off by the Kachin guerrillas. | The Kachin said Monday that they were being attacked by helicopter gunships and fighter jets, but Maj. Zaw Htay, director of the president’s office, said the aircraft were being used mainly to supply government units whose access to supplies by road had been cut off by the Kachin guerrillas. |
| Wednesday’s statement said, “During the attack, the army used air support.” It added that the military did not want to mount an offensive but that in order to maintain security and stability, it had to attack the outpost. | Wednesday’s statement said, “During the attack, the army used air support.” It added that the military did not want to mount an offensive but that in order to maintain security and stability, it had to attack the outpost. |
| The statement said government troops seized weapons, including mortars, hand grenades, mines and 4,000 rounds of ammunition. | The statement said government troops seized weapons, including mortars, hand grenades, mines and 4,000 rounds of ammunition. |
| The military announcement highlights a seeming disconnect between the government and the military, which retains much power behind the scenes. An order late last year by Mr. Thein Sein to halt offensive operations against the Kachin was not honored in practice. | The military announcement highlights a seeming disconnect between the government and the military, which retains much power behind the scenes. An order late last year by Mr. Thein Sein to halt offensive operations against the Kachin was not honored in practice. |
| The Kachin, like Myanmar’s other ethnic minorities, have long sought greater autonomy from the central government. They are the only major ethnic rebel group that has not reached a cease-fire agreement with Mr. Thein Sein’s government, which came to power last year after almost five decades of military rule. | The Kachin, like Myanmar’s other ethnic minorities, have long sought greater autonomy from the central government. They are the only major ethnic rebel group that has not reached a cease-fire agreement with Mr. Thein Sein’s government, which came to power last year after almost five decades of military rule. |
| His government has been hailed for instituting democratic reforms. But tension with ethnic minorities, evidenced by the fighting with the Kachin, is considered a major long-term problem for the government and a threat to the nascent democracy. | |
| Fighting erupted in Kachin State last June after the rebel group refused to abandon a strategic base near a hydropower plant that is a joint venture with a Chinese company. There have been off-and-on skirmishes between the Kachin rebels and government troops, often escalating into serious bombardment by government troops. | Fighting erupted in Kachin State last June after the rebel group refused to abandon a strategic base near a hydropower plant that is a joint venture with a Chinese company. There have been off-and-on skirmishes between the Kachin rebels and government troops, often escalating into serious bombardment by government troops. |