The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) fought the sit-tat (Burma army) in Kutkai Township in northern Shan State twice.

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Heavy weapons fire forced villagers to hide in their bunkers when the first clash occurred near Nawng Swe, about 4 miles from the Kutkai-Muse road, at 10:10 am on 9 June.

“First we heard the sound of heavy weapons, then rifle fire followed,” said a woman requesting anonymity, who said it lasted at least 30 minutes.

After things quietened down, villagers came out of their bunkers, but within 10 minutes the fighting resumed and there was more heavy fire for another 10 minutes.

On 5 June, KIA soldiers forced the closure of a middle school in the township because the teachers had been hired by the military regime and reportedly hadn’t joined the Civil Disobedience Movement, as many teachers and civil servants had done after the military coup.