DKBA

The Karen National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) will participate in the national-level political dialogue as a single block. The decision was reached at a meeting between the three Karen ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) in Lay Kaw Myothit in Myawaddy Township, Karen State on 21 November.…

Soldiers from the breakaway Democratic Karen Buddhist Army clashed with the government militia, the Border Guard Force, in Htee Poe Zan village tract near Kawkareik at noon on October 19. The fighting between the DKBA soldiers and the BGF battalion 1017 lasted around 40 minutes, according to local villagers. Major Saw Deedee, Battalion Commander of BGF 1017 confirmed the fighting…

Ongoing military operations by the Burma Army and government militia against DKBA forces are a threat to the peace process, Karen military leaders and community organisations warn. Karen Rivers Watch have blamed the Hat Gyi dam project in Karen State as igniting the latest armed clashes, which have seen thousands of local civilians displaced and fierce running gun battles. Naw…

Government troops claim they have now taken control of the Mae Tha Waw area in Karen State following weeks of intense fighting. The fighting was between the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and the Burma Army and its militia, the Border Guard Force (BGF). A BGF officer on September 19, claimed that the government has taken control over the road link…

The Karen National Union has issued a public statement today, September 13, objecting to and calling for an end to fighting in Mae Tha Wor between the the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the government’s military and its militias. The KNU’s statement said that the current military operation jointly carried out by the Burma Army and its militia, the…

As many as 2,000 villagers from 12 villages in Mae Tha Wor areas have fled their villages in fear of being caught in the crossfire between the Burma army, Government backed militia the Border Guard Force (BGF) and the ethnic Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) troops. Armed skirmishes between BGF and DKBA forces have intensified in recent days in a…

Armed clashes broke out in Karen State between splinter Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) forces and government backed militia. The fighting started in central Karen State on September 2nd, in Mae Tha Waw areas in Hlaingbwe Township, and has continued over the last few days. According to both BGF and DKBA sources, four armed clashes were reported within a day…

Fighting between troops from the Border Guard Force and renegade soldiers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army this week wounded four villagers. The armed clash took place between Kawt Nwe and Tadangu village near the new Kawkariek-Myawaddy Asia Highway on August 4. The breakaway DKBA troops were led by Lieutenant Na Ma Kyar and the BGF soldiers were from battalion…

Soldiers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, including a battalion commander, reunited with the Karen National Liberation Army 201 Battalion, Brigade 6th on June 17 in Kawkareik Towship Karen State. The DKBA troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Saw Naw Ku, commander of 908 Battalion, the deputy company commander Captain Saw Koo Nu, Platoon commanders Captain Saw Maw Ploe and Captain…

Followers of Sayadaw U Thuzana, were instructed by the Buddhist leader to build a pagoda in a Christian church’s compound in Kun Taw Gyi also known as Tha Blu Kla village in Hliangbwe Township, Karen State on April 23. Villagers are concerned that the Abbot’s provocative actions could ignite the already increasing religious tension in the area. More than 300…