Kachin Independence Army

Armed group in Myanmar Kachin Independence ArmyWunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Hpyen DapFlag of the Kachin Independence ArmyLeadersGen. N'Ban LaLt. Gen. Gam Shawng Lt. Gen. Gun MawDates active5 February 1961 (1961-02-05) – presentHeadquartersLaiza (since 2005)Pajau (formerly)Active regionsKachin State, Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region, Shan State, MyanmarYunnan, ChinaNortheast IndiaChina-Myanmar borderIndia-Myanmar borderIdeologyKachin nationalismFederalismSize15,000+Part ofKachin Independence OrganisationWarsthe internal conflict in Myanmar The Kachin Independence Army (KIA; Kachin: Wunpawng Mungdan Shanglawt Hpyen Dap; Burmese: ကချင်လွတ်လပ်ရေးတပ်မတော်) is a non-state armed group and the military wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), a political group of ethnic Kachins in Northern Myanmar (formerly Burma). The Kachins are a coalition of six tribes whose homeland encompasses territory in China's Yunnan, Northeast India and Kachin State in Myanmar. The Kachin Independence Army is funded by the KIO, which raises money through regional taxes and trade in jade, timber and gold. It is armed with a combination of AK-47s, locally mad