Only one of 20 junta flotilla vessels able to return from Bhamo: KIA

Following the junta’s stunning recent defeats on the Ayeyarwady, the regime is now attempting to establish a land route to reinforce Bhamo troops instead. However, only one of the junta’s 20 flotilla vessels was able to return from Bhamo, according to the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO). The KIO spokesperson said that the junta’s vessels were attacked by KIO forces at the mouth of the Magwe River, about 100 miles north of Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, before they reached Bhamo. “They were attacked by our forces before they reached Bhamo,” the spokesperson said. “They reached Bhamo and were attacked by our forces there. They tried to return from Bhamo, but our forces attacked them and they could not return from Bhamo.” The spokesperson did not explain why the junta’s vessels were unable to return from Bhamo, but said that KIO forces had planted landmines along the riverbanks in Bhamo to prevent the junta’s vessels from travelling up the river. “Our forces planted landmines along the riverbanks to prevent the junta’s vessels from reaching Bhamo,” the spokesperson said. “They reached Bhamo and were attacked by our forces there. They tried to return from Bhamo, but our forces attacked them and they could not return from Bhamo.” The spokesperson did not reveal the exact date on which KIO forces attacked the junta’s vessels, but said that it was a recent event. The junta has not commented on what the KIO spokesperson said.