Kachin army attacks jade mining town in Myanmar

Conflict resumes: People looking at columns of smoke rising after the attack in Hkamti in this picture obtained from social media. — Reuters

FORCES of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of the ethnic factions opposed to Myanmar’s coup, attacked military positions at the northwestern jade mining town of Hkamti, local media reported.

The attack marks an advance into new territory by the KIA at a time Myanmar has been plunged into chaos since the army seized power on Feb 1, detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and cut short a decade of democratic reforms.