Myanmar gov't forces seize last stronghold of Kokang army

Myanmar government troops have seized strategic Point 2202 tophill, the last stronghold of the Kokang ethnic army, in a latest offensive, local media quoted the military sources as reporting Friday.

The last stronghold of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) was occupied by the government forces on Thursday, said the Pyi Myanmar.

The government forces are in hot pursuit of the retreating Kokang army, the report added.

The occupation of Kokang army's last tophill came two days after three prior tophills, Point-1607, Point 1709 and Point 1742, fell to the government on May 11 and 12.

In the May battle, the government claimed seizing seven bodies of the Kokang army along with some weapons, arms and ammunition without revealing the government casualties.

The government had claimed earlier that its forces suffered 126 deaths with 359 being injured 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 side seized 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 a number of 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, Myanmar Defense Minister Lieutenant-General Wai Lwin proposed to the Parliament on Thursday to extend the 90-day period of state of emergency, declared in Kokang region ,Shan state-North, to 90 more days, saying that fightings still continued there and the situation in the region has not yet returned to normal.

"More time is needed as security, stability, economy and the legal system in Kokang are still below normal," Wai Lwin told the parliament.

Wai Lwin's proposal is set to be discussed in the parliament later on Friday on the extension of the period of the state of emergency which is due on May 17.