Karen Soldiers and Gov’t Militia Fight – One Killed and Two Wounded

Fighting in Mywaddy Township between troops from the Karen National Liberation Army and government militia’s Border Guard Force on Saturday, February 28 left one KNLA dead, one wounded and one BGF soldier injured.

The fighting was between soldiers from the KNLA 6th Brigade Headquarter, Special Column and the BGF soldiers from its Battalion 1022. The fighting broke out at 6:13pm and lasted for around 15 minutes. Captain Hla Min, the KNLA Column Commander, said the fighting took place on the way from Maw Hto Talay and Tha Blu Koh Khi village, six miles south of Myawaddy Town.

Speaking to Karen News, Captain Hla Min said.

“Two weeks ago, they [BGF] came here and built an outpost. We told them to not to do so and asked them to withdraw and they did. But they came back up later and we sent troops to check. They opened fire on our soldiers.”

Captain Hla Min confirmed to Karen News that one of his men, private Saw Muang Lay, 22 died on the spot while Master Sergeant Saw Tu Poe, 42 was wounded on his thigh and is being treated at Myawaddy Hospital.

An officer from the BGF in the area who asked not to be named spoke to Karen News about the fighting.

“I knew about the fighting. It was caused over territory issues. I got news that one of our soldiers was wounded. Leaders from both sides are now in talks to try to prevent incidents like this from happening again. An emergency meeting is planned to take place soon.”

On Friday, February 27 fighting happened between troops led by the former Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Colonel Saw San Aung and Burma Army soldiers under its Military Operation Command (MOC) #13 based in Kyaikdon Town.

This is not the first time Captain Hla Min’s, Special Column from the KNLA’s 6th Brigade Headquarter had trouble with BGF Battalion #1022, on September 2014, KNLA private Saw Ta Noe was arrested and killed by soldiers from the BGF’s Battalion #1022.