ICC Note:
At least 4,000 already displaced Kachin people have fled their displacement camp for China amid heavy fighting in Kachin State. The civilians fled the camp at around 4 am to make their way to the China border. The group of mostly women and children were forced back from the border by Chinese police. The Kachin people are a predominantly Christian group that has experienced severe persecution for their faith. Separatists groups from these areas have worsened the human rights situation, and government forces have often targeted civilian villages and camps in their military offensives.
1/13/2017 Myanmar (Myanmar Times) – The Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have been engaged in heavy fighting, including airstrikes, around Waingmaw township in northern Kachin State.
After an escalation in clashes nearby, civilians, mainly women, children and elderly, from two IDP camps fled at around 4am, according to a statement released yesterday by the Joint Strategic Team, an alliance of local groups.
“There was fighting yesterday. And they [the IDPS] fled to China [yesterday] morning. But they said they were forced to go back by the Chinese police. So, they are now in Myanmar again, “said Gum Sha Awng, the JST spokesperson.
…
[Full Story]