Myanmar gov't troops seize three more Kokang hill posts

Myanmar's government troops have occupied three more hill posts of the Kokang ethnic army in an offensive over the last two days, the military-run media Myawaddy reported on Wednesday.

The three hill posts seized from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) are Point 1607, Point 1709 and Point 1742.

Seven bodies of the Kokang army were found along with weapons and ammunition, the report said, adding that some government soldiers were killed and military officers were injured.

The government had claimed earlier that its forces suffered 126 deaths with 359 injuries as of April 15 since fighting erupted with the Kokang ethnic army on Feb. 9.

During the 253 engagements between the government troops and Kokang's MNDAA as of April 15, the government troops discovered 74 bodies of the MNDAA, arrested 22 of them and confiscated 226 arms and ammunition and 27.761 billion Kyats (27 million U.S. dollars) worth of narcotic drugs.

During its combing of two highlands in its April offensive using heavy weapons, tank and air strike, Myanmar government forces seized four more strategic tophills and villages where the Kokang ethnic army based.

With the seizure of these hilltops, the government forces claimed total control of key locations of Laukkai, the capital of Kokang region.

Meanwhile, peace negotiators of the Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups preliminarily signed a draft nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) on March 31.

The government has expressed its readiness to finalize the ceasefire deal, while the ethnic side was seeking final adoption.

Moreover, Myanmar ethnic peace negotiator - the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) - is planning an all-inclusive conference to discuss potential signing of the NCA. Endi