KIA Denies Rumor Chief Under House Arrest in China

缅媒：KIA否认谣言称其领导人在中国被软禁

作者： 伊洛瓦底江         来源：伊洛瓦底江

General N’Ban La, KIA senior commander and leader of its political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization.

克钦独立军高级指挥官兼克钦独立组织政治派别领导人恩班拉将军。

Ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) spokesman Colonel Naw Bu has denied rumors that China has placed N’Ban La – a senior commander and chief of KIA’s political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization – under house arrest to pressure the armed group to stop fighting the regime.

克钦独立军（KIA）发言人诺布上校否认了有关中国将克钦独立军高级指挥官兼克钦独立组织（Kachin Independence Organization）领导人恩班拉（N 'Ban La）软禁以迫使该武装组织停止与缅甸政权作战的传言。

Naw Bu also denied reports that Beijing has threatened to halt purchases of rare earth mined in KIA-controlled territory unless the ethnic army halts efforts to seize the junta’s garrison town of Bhamo in Kachin State, less than 100 kilometers from the Chinese border.

有报道称，除非缅甸少数民族军队停止夺取缅甸军政府在克钦邦（Kachin）的重镇八莫（Bhamo），否则北京方面威胁将停止购买在克钦控制地区开采的稀土。八莫距离中国边境不到100公里。

Reuters reported Tuesday that China warned KIA officials in May it would stop buying minerals from Kachin if the KIA continues its offensive on Bhamo. Beijing also reportedly promised greater cross-border trade with KIA-controlled territories if the armed group abandoned efforts to seize the town.

路透社星期二报道说，中国5月份警告克钦独立军官员，如果克钦独立军继续进攻八莫，中国将停止从克钦购买矿产。据报道，北京还承诺，如果该武装组织放弃夺取该镇的努力，将扩大与kia控制地区的跨境贸易。

Colonel Naw Bu said China’s call to halt to fighting was not new, but he was unaware of pressure related to rare earths.

诺布中校表示，中国呼吁停止战斗并不新鲜，但他不知道与稀土有关的压力。

“China has continuously called for a truce and negotiations – this is not new. But I haven’t heard about it threatening to stop purchasing rare earth minerals,” Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy.

他说：“中国一直呼吁休战和谈判，这并不新鲜。但我没有听说它威胁要停止购买稀土矿物，”诺布告诉伊洛瓦底。

He said mineral exports were continuing as usual from Chinese-run rare earth mines in KIA-controlled Pangwa.

他表示，在kia控制的Pangwa，中国经营的稀土矿的矿产出口仍在照常进行。

A local worker confirmed ongoing shipments through the Pangwa border crossing, with daily deliveries of Chinese fertilizers and food flowing in the opposite direction.

一名当地工人证实，正在通过盘古边境口岸运送物资，每天都有中国化肥和食品从相反的方向运送。

The KIA captured Chipwi and Pangwa – rare earth mining hubs near the Chinese border – in October last year.

克钦独立军去年10月占领了靠近中国边境的稀土开采中心Chipwi和Pangwa。

Naw Bu rejected reports by the Kachin Sub-state Media that Chinese authorities had placed General N’Ban La under house arrest, calling them false. He said the general was on a routine visit to China and due to return shortly.

诺布否认了克钦邦媒体有关中国当局已将恩班拉将军软禁的报道，称这些报道不实。他说，这位将军正在对中国进行例行访问，并将很快返回。

“He goes to China every two months for medical check-ups,” he said.

“他每两个月去一次中国做体检，”他说。

A source close to the general’s family also denied he was in Chinese custody.

一位与李光宰家人关系密切的消息人士也否认李光宰被中国拘留。

A military observer said China appeared to be using the carrot, not the stick, to persuade the KIA to halt its Bhamo assault.

一名军事观察家表示，中国似乎是在使用胡萝卜，而不是大棒，来说服克钦独立军停止对巴莫的攻击。

Naw Bu said junta troops and combined KIA and allied forces are shelling each other daily in Bhamo, with the regime also deploying airstrikes mainly comprising drones.

诺布说，军政府部队和克钦独立军以及联军每天都在八莫互相炮击，军政府还部署了主要由无人机组成的空袭。

“We are exchanging artillery strikes but haven’t launched fresh attacks. They are also conducting daily drone attacks. Our troops remain are holding their positions, and so are theirs,” he said.

“我们正在互相炮击，但还没有发动新的攻击。他们还每天进行无人机袭击。我们的军队仍然坚守阵地，他们的军队也是如此。”

Junta forces are also battling to reclaim Kachin’s jade mining hub of Hpakant, resulting in daily clashes at jade mines, he said. China is the main buyer of Myanmar’s rare earth and jade.

他说，军政府部队也在为夺回克钦的玉矿中心帕敢而战，导致玉矿每天都发生冲突。中国是缅甸稀土和玉石的主要买家。

作者： 伊洛瓦底江         来源：伊洛瓦底江