Daily News

LEDO LAM DE MYEN NI SHADA GAP SI

January (13) bat Manga
Jinghpaw Mungdaw Danai lam de January (12) ya shana de maga hkying (5:00pm) ten hta Lido Lam n tsa Jambu Hkin Dang (micro wave) sin ai myen hpyen asuya a hpyen dap hka-la-ya (297) ni hkam da ai bawm hpe Danai Maga de lawu ga na hpyen n gun sa sa lung wa ai tatma dap hpyen hpung ni gabye kapaw la n htawm KIA ni hkam da ai shadu na shada gasat poi hking hkum mi ram byin lai wa sai lam na chye lu ai. Ndai zawn shada gap gasat ai hta myen hpyen la marai (20) si ai lam hpe mung na chye lu ai. Hkala ai hpyen la ni hte si ai myen mang ni hpe dai hpawt leng (3) cycle hte htaw la mat sai lam mung matut chye lu ga ai.

There was ambushed road side bomb exploded on 12 January 2012 about 5:00pm Burma time. The land bomb was placed by Burmese army hka-la-ya 297 along the Lido road and Burmese army soldiers are being station there to safe guard the microwave base station in this area. Unfortunate the road side bomb killed 20 Burmese soldiers and injured many other Burmese soldiers from both side. Burmese soldiers from both sides fiercely fighting each other lasted for about an hour assuming it was KIA defensive attack against them. The dead bodies and injured soldiers are taken away the nex morning with 3 wheels motorbikes according to eye witness report.

URU SENG MAW DE BAWM HTE HKAP GAP

January (12) bat Mali,
Jinghpaw Mung Hpakant lam Nam Ya kawn lung wa ai myen hpyen asuya a ts-ka-hka hte ma-pa-hka npu na n gun (250) ram hpe Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya Dap Dung (6) npu na L/D Maji Gam Seng woi awn ai Mung Shawa Hpyen Hpung (MHH) ni Map Ref: 5108380 kaw bawm hte hkap hkam kapaw ai lam shiga na chye lu ai. Hkala hkrum ai myen hpyen la ni hpe Nam Ya mare kaw na tri cycle ni hte wa htaw la ai lam na chye lu ai.
Lawng Hkang kawn (11:20am) ten rawt ai tai hpyen n-gun (30) grup yin hpe (11:45am) ten hta, Kung (3) na, G/J Lasam Gam Seng woi awn ai hpung ni Map Ref: KJ 365440 (Nam Jan Zup hte Hpan Hkajawng) lapran bawm hte hkap kapaw ai kaw, tai hpyen na Du (1) Hpyen ma (2) dai shara kaw nan si wa sai lam, Lawng Hkang Tsi Rung kaw Gyi (1) bai wa si nna si ai yawng (4) hte hkala ai yawng (8) ram re lam chye na chye lu ai. Lawng Hkang hte Sang Hka lapran, Mazup Yang Nawku Jawng shingdu kaw tai n-gun (23) hpung hpe (12:45pm) ten tinang MKM hte Kai Chyan ni bawm (2) lang hkap dem ai lam hpe mung matut na chye lu ai.

There were 3 defensive bombs attacked by KIA forces against Burmese intrusion into KIA control areas on 12 January 2012 the same day. The first bombs attacked led by KIA forces under L/D Maji Gam Seng command Map Ref: 5108380, against about 250 Burmese soldiers under ts-ka-hka and ma-pa-hka troops from Nam Ya village under Hpakan town Kachin State. Many of injured Burmese soldier are taken away by Tri cycle from Nam Ya village.

There was second bombs attacked led by G/J Lasam Gam Seng against about 30 of Burmese soldiers from Lawng Hkang in between Nam Jan zup and Phan Hkajawng, Map Ref: KJ 365440 at 1145am Burma time. In this bombs explosion has killed 1 Lieutenant commander and 2 soldiers on the spot and 1 captain die in Lawng Hkang hospital and 8 other soldiers were seriously injured according to eyes witness report.

There was third bomb attacked against about 23 Burmese soldiers camping behind Mazup Yang Church at 1245noon Burma time according to eyes witness report. The fierce civil war by Burmese military is unstoppable in spite of United States and British Leaders recent visit to encourage Burma’s reforming and reconciliation with ethnic Kachin and other ethnic groups.

SAMA LAM NUMSHE KAW GASAT

SAMA LANUMSHE KAW GASAT

January (12) bat mali,
Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya Dap Ba (5) Ginra Sama lam numshe kaw KIA Dap Nawng Dap Dung na Du Up Gum Sau woi awn ai KIA myu tsaw share shagan ni hte myen hpyen asuya a hpyen hpung ni January (11) ya shani hkying (1:00pm) aten daram hta gasat poi byin lai wa sai lam na chye lu ai.

There was another fierce defensive attack led by lieutenant Colonel Gum Sau against Burmese soldier’s intrusion into KIA government control areas 5 brigade Sama village on 11 January 2012 at 1pm loacal time. There was no exact numbers of casualties from both side yet according to battle frontline report.

DAP BA (4) GINRA HU MUNG KAW GASAT

January (12) bat mali,
Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya Dap Ba (4), Dung (9) na KIA myu tsaw share shagan ni gaw January (11) ya jahpawt hkying (3:00am) ram hta Hu Mung kaw myen hpyen asuya hpyen hpung hk-ma-ya (567) na hpyen hpung ni hte laja lana gap gasat wa sai lam na chye lu ai. N dai majan hta myen hpyen la (2) si nna, (2) hkala lai wa sai lam hpe mung na chye lu ai.

There was another fierce fighting against Burmese army’s hk-ma-ya (567) intrusion into Hu Mung under KIA government forces 9^th battalion control area on 11 January 2012 at 3am local time. According to battle frontline cited that 2 Burmese soldiers killed and 2 other soldiers injured. The deadly intrusion attack continues by Burmese soldiers in spite of pressure from United States and United Kingdom. It seem that the civil war in Kachin state is inevitable for KIA government troops to defend against Burmese army intrusion into KIA government control area and Burmese army has committed gravely basic human right violation against Kachin people in Kachin State.

SUMPRA BUM LAM DE MYEN HPYEN NI ZINGRI

January (12) bat Mali
Jinghpaw Mungdaw Sumpra Bum Mawdaw lam mayan Nam Hkam kaw na Daru hka maga de yu wa ai Tai hpyen hpung Hk.L.Y ( 138 ) ni January (11) ya jahpawt hkying (8:00am) ten hta Kawa Pang mare kaw na Mung shawa num, la, kaji, kaba n ginhka yawng n hkan n mai shagyeng nna mare masha (60) jan hpe woi mat wa ai lam na chye lu ai. Ndai hpyen hpung gaw n'htoi (6) ya shani Hka Garan mare kaw jawng ma ni hpe Porter lahkawn ai hpyen hpung ni re.

The Burmese army Hk.L.Y ( 138 ) has threaten against Kachin man,woman, young and old from Kawa Pang village on 11 January 2012 at 8am local time. More than 60 Kachin people were taken by Burmese soldier for frontline human shield and as a porter to carry army’s suppliers and weapons. These same Burmese’s soldiers were also taken students from Garan village on 6 January 2012 as porter for the same reason for human shield in frontline and free labor to carry army’s supplies and weapons.

We Kachin people citizen of Burma appeal to international community’s immediate actions to stop Burmese military deadly human right abuse against Kachin people in Burma. Since June 2011the civil war has started and we Kachin people been suffering without food and basic material need support from UN or any other international community. Why UN was turn his deaf ear and ignore to our Kachin people in Burma in spite of many appeals for help? We hope the UN and the world will hear a groaning and suffering of Kachin people in Burma.

HANGKAI BUM DE HPYEN MAWDAW (20) DU

January (9) bat Langai,
Jinghpaw Mungdaw Myitkyina-Manmaw lam Dawhpum Yang ninghtoi Hangkai Bum de myen hpyen asuya a hpyen hpung ni mawdaw (20) tup hte dai hpawt January (9) ya hkying (3:30am) ram hta du shang wa sai lam shiga na chye lu ai. N dai myen hpyen asuya a hpyen mawdaw ni hta myen hpyen la ni rau laknak kaba (2) mung lawm ai lam hpe na chye lu ai. Ya ten myen hpyen asuya ni gaw Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya a Ginra ni de grau grau hpyen n gun jat htu lung wa nga sai lam hpe matut na chye lu ai.

According to eyes witness reported, Burmese soldiers continue to arrive in Hangkai mountain Kachin State with 20 lorries fully loaded with weapons, 2 artilleries and supplies on 09 January 2012 at 3:30am Burma time. In spite of Burmese regime government spreading news about possible cease fire talk with KIA and other ethnic arm groups Burmese soldiers continue its attack against KIA and Kachin civilian.

KAWNG LAWT POST HPE YEN KAU RA

January (9) bat Langai,
Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya Dap Ba (3) Ginra Manmaw-Loi Je lam Yaw Yung mare makau na KIA a Kawng Lawt Post hpe mani January (8) hta myen asuya hpyen hpung ni kawn laknak kaba hte nau sharu bun ai majaw tinang myu tsaw share shagan ni a shim lam hpe ku nna gan yen kau ra sai lam shiga na chye lu ai. N dai Kawng Lawt Post kaw na KIO/KIA Dap Ba (3) Ginra rai nga ai Mai Ja Yang Mare hpe a dan sha mu mada ai shara rai nna myen a lak nak kaba gap dep ai shara mung rai nga ai lam hpe na chye lu ai. Kanu Jinghpaw Mungdan kata hte Maigan Mungdan shara shagu du nga ai Jinghpaw Wunpawng Myu Sha ni yawng Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya KIO/AIA a matu n sim n sa akyu hpyi garum ya nga ga ngu lajin dat n ngai.

Burmese army bombard with heavy artilleries against KIA Kawng Lawt Post near Yaw Yung village under KIA 3^rd Brigade control area. Thus KIA has forces have left that area behind for their troops safety and security purpose. This location was close distance to KIA 3^rd Division Mai Ja Yang, in fact it may be strategic location for Burmese army artilleries launch pad against Mai Ja Yang KIA 3^rd Division control areas. Therefore we Kachin people join hand together to pray for KIA to gain strength from God to resist and overpower the enemy that attack KIA and Kachin people. We all Kachin believer continue to pray for their safety and strength to conquer the enemies.

KAWA YANG MAKAU GAW GAP

January (8) Laban

Jinghpaw Mungdaw Htingnai Ginwang, Mohgawng ninghtoi Kawa Yang mare makau kaw Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya Dum (11) na KIA myu tsaw share shagan ni hte myen asuya hpyen hpung ni January (7) ya shana maga hkying (3:00pm) ram hta gasat poi byin wa sai lam shiga na chye lu ai.

There was another fierce fighting between KIA and Burmese army on 07 January 2012 at 3pm Burma tme in Kawa Yang village KIA 11^th Brigade control area Kachin State. Burmese army offensive attack and civil is unstoppable days after days spread like a ruin fire in all over Kachin State aginst Kachin civilian.

MARU HTE HKA YA LAPRAN KAW GAP

January (8) Laban,

Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya Dap Ba (3) npu Daung (16) Ginra rai nga ai Maru mare hte Hka Ya lapran kaw KIA myu tsaw share shagan ni hte myen hpyen asuya a tat-ma (88) na hpyen hpung ni January (7) ya shana maga hkying (3:30pm) aten daram hta gasat poi byin lai wa sai lams higa na chye lu ai. N dai majan hta myen de na marai (4) si hkrum wa sai lam hpe mung na chye lu ai.

There was another deadly fighting between KIA 16^th platoon and offensive Burmese army (tat ma 88) on 07 January 2012 at about 3:30pm Burma time. The deadly fighting took place in between Maru and Hka Ya villages under KIA 3^rd Brigade control area. According frontline report 4 Burmese soldiers lost their life for the sake to please the Burmese army order to continue civil war against KIA and Kachin civilian.

Majan

NAM SHENG MAKAU KAW MHH NI HKAP GAP

January (7) bat Kru,
Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Asuya Dap Ba (2) n pu, Dung (6) ginra rai nga ai Nam Sheng mare hte Lagat Yang mare lapran, Ga Lasha kaw January (6) ya shani jahpawt hkying (7:30am) ram hta Hpakant de lai lung wa ai myen hpyen asuya hpyen hpung ni hpe Dung (6) n pu na Mung Shawa Hpyen Hpung (MHH) ni bawm hte (4) lang hkap gap kapaw lai wa sai lam shiga na chye lu ai.

There was 4 ambush bombs attack by KIA 2^nd Battalion agaist Murmese army intrusion into KIA control areas in Ga Lasha on 06 Januandy 2012 at 730am Burma time. Burmese soldoers were heading to Phakan Town Kachin State under where the Jade mining area, there was 4 bombs explosion but the exact number of casualty is unknown. Burmese regime government is ordering its army to stop immediately attack against KIA but it was ignore president Thein Sein order instead building up more soldiers and weapons to KIA control areas. Burmese army has vcommited torture,brutal killing, gange rape, looting, burning of houses, Churches and arresting civilian for force labour and human shield in the front line areas agaist Kachin civilian. We strongly condemn the acts of terrist by Burmese army and we appeal the world community to take immediate actions to end civil war and ethnic cleansing again Kachin in Burma.

----------------------------

MYEN HPYEN NI JAWNGMA NI HPE POTER LAHKAWN

January (6) bat Manga

Jinghpaw Mungdaw Sumpra Bum Modo lam mayan, Hka Garan mare kaw du nga ai Putao Byu Ha kata na hka-la-ya (138) Dap Up Major Myint Tein woi awn ai npu na hpyen hpung n-gun (40) jan gaw dai ni Hka Garan mare Lapran Tsang Jawng yu ai ten Jawng ma kaba ni hpe Porter lahkawn la ai lam na chye lu ai. Marai kade lahkawn la hkrum ai lam hkrak n chye ya lu. Mare kata na ramma ni hte la wa ngan ni yawng 4/ 1/ 2012 ya shana nam de hprawng makoi mat ai hpang jawng ma ni hpe dai zawn galaw wa ai re lam na chye lu.

(Sumla: hka-la-ya (138 ) Tat Yin Mu Myint Tein

Many secondary male stundents from Sumpr Bum, Hka Garan village Kachin State were taken as porter by Burmese army Platoon(hka-la-ya (139) command under Major Myint Tein with 40^th soldiers. The students were force to carried arms and supplied for Burmese army as well as human shield at the civil frontline. According report, all of the men and adults have fled to jungle for safty and fear of Burmese army force porter for civil war frontline. Since 1961, Burmese army has commited human right violation and abuse Kachin civilian as force labour for Burmese army. Burmese army always force Kachin man and women as porters, mainly to carry army’s weapons, equipments, carry foods supplies, building army shelter and bunker, worse is use porter as human shield in the battle frontline. We condemn Burmese army and regime government abused and grave concern about human right violation over 50 years against Kachin civilian in Myanmar.

------------------------------------------------

BUGA MASHA NI MIWA HKRAN DE YEN

January (4) bat Masum,

Jinghpaw Mungdaw Shanglawt Asuya Dap Ba (3) a up hkang ginra rai nga ai Mai Ja Yang hte Loi Je lapran Mai Bat mare hkan na mung masha ni mung dai ni January (4) ya hta sinat kaba nau gadu ngoi ai majaw miwa hkran La Ying maga de hprawng yen mat sai lam na chye lu ai.

There was very loud explosion around Mai Bat village located between Mai Ja Yang and Loi Je under KIA 3^rd Brigade control area. The villagers have fled to La Ying China on 04 January 2012 due to fierce attack by Burmese Military against KIA forces in these areas. Although Ms. Aung San Su Kyi is gearing up for upcoming election for her party but civil war against Kachin people is continuing fiercely inspite of president Thein Sein issued order on 10 December 2011. Is Aung San Su Kyi win the in election, is she able to influence current Burmese Military regime for national reconsilation and stand for all ethnic groups in Myanmar? It seem that she will be just another puppet for regime government, many of Burma people and all ethnic groups on the ground are not very hopeful and not optimistic about her being elected as minister or even president for Myanmar.

By: JPkasa/Jinghpaw MR

Kachin in Singapore and Malaysia raise $20,000 for humanitarian relief

Kachin dancers perform during a benefit concert in Singapore on Jan 2. The Singapore concert and a similar event held in Malaysia on Dec 26 raised $20,000 to aid refugees affected by fighting in Kachin and northern Shan state.

Overseas Kachin living in Singapore and Malaysia raised more than $20,000 to support Kachin refugees in northern Burma, by holding two special charity concerts over the Christmas season.

The donations will be split, with half going to help internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in government controlled areas and the other half going to help those who have fled to territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), according to Tangbau Awng Di, secretary of the Singapore Kachin Culture and Literature Body.

“The shows were organized by Kachin people in each country and other people from Burma also joined the concerts’, said Awng Di during a phone interview Saturday.

18 popular Kachin singers including members of the newly formed “Yak Tim Pyaw Tim Rau” group, traveled from Burma to take part in the shows. On December 26 a fund raising concert was held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. According to concert organizer Nhkum La Seng, the Malaysian concert had an attendance of more than 1,000 people.

The second concert was held in Singapore on January 2 and was attended by approximately 300 people. A Chin organization in Singapore also donated funds for the Kachin relief effort.

Both Malaysia and Singapore are home to large numbers of refugee and migrant workers from Burma.

The majority of workers from Burma living in Malaysia work in farm plantations, factories, fishing or construction. Burmese labour activists in Malaysia estimate that more than half a dozen workers from Burma were killed in industrial accidents during the construction of Kuala Lumpur's famed twin towers, the headquarters of Malaysia's national oil firm Petronas.

More refugees expected
Doi Pyi Sa, who heads the KIO’s IDP and Refugee Relief Committee told the Kachin News Group that his organization had a list of more than 50,000 refugees in both government and KIO-controlled areas as well as inside China. He believes however that the total number of people displaced by the fighting could be as high as 70,000. More refugees are expected as the fighting continues.

There are an estimated 40,000 refugees sheltering in KIO run camps along the China border. According to volunteers working on the ground refugees in the KIO area are in dire need of vital supplies. On December 12 the UN sent five Burmese staff and a small aid convoy to visit refugee camps located at Laiza, the KIO's headquarters. Nearly one month later the UN has yet to make good on its promise to return with more aid.

More than 15,000 people are thought to have taken shelter in government controlled areas like Manmaw (Bhamo), N’Mawk (Momauk), Manje (Mansi), Myitkyina, Waimaw (Waingmaw), Putau (Putao) and Hkawnglanghpu, according to Kachin relief groups. Most of these people are staying in Kachin churches or with relatives.

Burma Army offensive against KIO in jade area forces more to flee

A recent offensive by Burmese government forces against the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) in the Hpakan jade mining area in the west of Kachin state, has forced hundreds of local villagers to flee for their safety, according to refugees in the area.


An estimated 300 people have taken shelter in a Kachin Baptist church in Lawng Hkang town, with others seeking refuge in a nearby Catholic Church or with friends, our source said.

Earlier this week the KIO enacted a complete ban on all public travel along the Hpakan jade mining road due to the ongoing conflict with the Burmese army.

According to the KIO’s armed-wing the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), over 400 government troops are presently en route to the Hpakan jade region to reinforce the large number of troops already in the area. The reinforcements are said to be troops from the Magway-based Infantry Division No. 88, according to KIA officials.
[IMG]/images/stories/Mineral/hpakan-map-060112.jpg[/IMG]
On Friday morning at about 7 AM a Burmese army column was ambushed at Ga Matep by troops from the KIA's 6th battalion. At least 6 Burmese soldiers were killed according to KIA sources.

On Friday evening another government column in the same area suffered heavy casualties after they set off KIA land mines buried on the Hpakan road between Gauri Lagat Yang and Kamaing, said KIA officers. The exact number of dead or injured is not known.

Most of the Myitkyina-Hpakan road has been under the control of Kachin forces since the government began a new offensive against the KIO in June of last year. Burma is the world’s largest producer of jade and tax collection from the export of precious stones is estimated to be the third largest source of revenue for the Burma's central government.
By:KNG

UN running out of funds for Kachin relief effort

Photo from the Wunpawng Ninghtoi, an elderly Kachin women flees from the Burmese army last year. The UN admitted in a report released last month that it has nearly run out of funds to assist the more than 50,000 people who have fled fighting between the Kachin Independence Army and the Burmese government.

A report released late last month by the UN's office of Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that funding for the UN's humanitarian relief efforts in Kachin state are quickly running out.

Referring to the large number of internally displaced people forced from their homes as a result of fighting between the Burmese army and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) the report states "The number of displaced and needs are rapidly increasing and partners have mobilized all existing stocks and funds available. No more buffer resources to continue carrying out even basic assistance in accessible areas, and for an extended period of time is available."

The report's dire conclusions do not come as a surprise to exiled Kachin activists who have worried for some time that the UN and its various agencies were not paying enough attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Kachin and northern Shan States. While UN organizations including the World Food Program, UNICEF and OCHA have spent most of their resources to assist those displaced people who have fled to government controlled areas, the vast majority of people have fled to the KIO territory to get away from the Burmese army.

Reached for comment Moon Nay Li of the Kachin Women's Association of Thailand (KWAT) told the Kachin News Group (KNG) that her organization was very worried that UN and its related agencies are running out funds, a problem she says is the result of the UN not paying enough attention to the Kachin situation since fighting began between the KIO and Burmese government last June.

Moon Nay Li told KNG "we are very concerned about the refugee crisis on the border and we want the UN to ensure that there is funding to deal with what is happening on the ground both on the border and in government areas. It’s important that this humanitarian crisis not be ignored because there are many thousands of civilians affected by the fighting".

Moon Nay Li added that not only Kachin people have been displaced by the fighting but Shan, Palaung and other ethnic people have been forced to flee from their homes since full scale armed conflict broke out between the KIO and the Burmese army last June. According to KWAT conditions for more the than 50,000 refugees trapped in KIO territory along the Burmese China border are deteriorating, with food supplies running low. KWAT also warns that the temporary camps have inadequate sanitation to deal with max the influx of people resulting in the spread of illness to many of the refugees.

Asked about the lack of funding Martin Nesirky, chief spokesperson for Secretary Ban Ki-moon told KNG that the UN is working on the issue. In an email statement sent to KNG Nesirky wrote "The UN and partners have been using their internal funding to respond to the crisis, and are in discussion with partners and donors to ensure additional resources are provided to continue operations, and expand in line with needs."

Nesikry added that "There is a need for additional funding based on an estimated requirement for around 50,000 IDPs for six months, on the assumption of continued access."

Much of the UN's activities in Burma hinge on the approval of the Burmese government and many of the UN's critics say the organization is too worried about upsetting President Thein Sein and his military backers to push for more access to displaced people in need of assistance.

Neskiry told KNG "Dialogue with the Government on the issue of access to Kachin IDPs continues. The Government has recently allowed the UN to have access to KIA/KIO controlled areas. We are going to continue to make the case for that access."

Burma Army helicopter shot down by Kachin resistance

Officials from the Kachin Independence Organization's armed wing claim that on January 4 their group shot down a Burmese army transport helicopter in northern Kachin State.


The pilot of the Russian built helicopter died upon impact, after crash landing in a paddy field near Sinlum Bum village in N’Mawk (Momauk) Township, said Zau Seng a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) officer stationed on the front line.

According to Zau Seng, the helicopter was severely damaged after coming under small arms fire from the KIA, during a failed attempt to unload supplies at a Burmese base near Mu Bum mountain.

Eyewitnesses report that the helicopter began to produce smoke after repeatedly taking machine gun fire from troops belonging to the KIA's 3rd Brigade. The helicopter crashed several miles away from the Mu Bum base during an apparent retreat to its home base in Manmaw.

The remains of the helicopter were discovered the following day by local villagers.

Fighting between the KIA and government forces has continued unabated for nearly seven months, despite a December 10 order from President Thein Sein instructing the army to cease the Kachin offensive.

Although Burma's military backed government is yet release any estimates of the number of Burmese soldiers killed in the Kachin offensive, KIA sources say the Burmese army has sustained its worst losses in more than two decades. A claim supported by seasoned Burmese military observers who note the generals total disregard for the safety of their own poorly trained conscript troops.