Mizzima
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) found billions of kyats in cash on an army base when it took control of Lwegel (also known as Lweje or Loi Je) on the Chinese border, in Kachin State’s Momauk Township.
The last junta-held army base in the town, the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 142 base, was seized on the morning of 9 April without a shot being fired, because the remaining junta troops and about 60 administrative staff from the base had fled to China during the night of 8 April.
On searching the abandoned LIB 142 base the defence forces initially reported having found over 5 billion kyats in bank notes and gold bars which they said they had seized, along with a lot of weapons and ammunition left by the fleeing junta personnel.
Though there seems to be some doubt about the exact amount of cash seized, as a frontline KIA officer said: “It is estimated 1 billion Myanmar kyats were seized from the camp, though detailed verification has not yet been completed. The funds were discovered in a small warehouse within the camp, along with various weapons.”
Whether the discrepancy was due to the confusion of battle or because it was diverted elsewhere is not known, Mizzima is currently investigating how much cash was seized.
The junta personnel who fled to China were met by Chinese Immigration officers who took them away and said that they would be returned to Myanmar through the Muse border gate in northern Shan State.
The KIA has deployed forces and raised its flag at the 21 government departmental offices in Lwegel, as well as flying the flag over the market and hospitals. It also posted signs on the department’s front doors saying: “No one, except authorised people, are allowed to enter and use this office.”
The KIA has overrun and occupied over 60 junta outposts and garrisons during recent fighting in Kachin State.
