Jury Chai, Independent Mon News Agency – 300 troops of the Burmese Army’s Light Infantry Division (LID) No. 22 have arrived in Makatha, part of Three Pagodas Pass Sub-Township that is under the control of the Karen National Union (KNU), and they plan to launch an offensive against the KNU and its armed faction, the KNLA, said a KNU leader.
“I think after they [the Burmese Army] have increased their troop numbers here, they may deploy their troops, or will launch a new offensive against us. But for now, we know that they are hiding somewhere in the jungle,” said the KNU spokesperson for the 6th Brigade.
The LID No. 22 troops arrived nearly to the ‘Thabyu’ mining area on June 27. The mining location is about 20 kilometers from the western part of Three Pagodas Pass town, and it is deep inside Karen territory that is the stronghold of KNU’s 6th Brigade. According to the KNU spokesperson, the Burmese troops caused problems in local villages as they made their way to their current location.
Recently, LID No. 22 left Moulmein, the capital of Mon State and the base of Southeast Region Command, and moved to Kawkareik Township for a while. The soldiers then moved forward to the ‘Thabyu’ mining area, apparently to target one of the KNU’s sources of income. The local mining workers believe that the Burmese Army plans to permanently deploy their forces near the mining industry.
“Two days ago, I saw them in the mining area. They also brought artillery weapons along with them,” said a local miner.
The Burmese Army will be able to implement cuts to support for the KNU and the KNLA if they are able to maintain a base near the mining industries, added the workers. The army can cut mining tax support and the local Karen villagers’ support to KNU/KNLA in term of supplies, money, information, and communication.
Currently, Makatha villagers are afraid to travel outside of their village because they worry they could face torture or extra-judicial killing committed by Burmese soldiers, as they have in past experiences.
Recently, an unknown armed group entered Three Pagodas Pass town on June 5 and 14 and burnt some houses and trucks. Since then, the situation in the area of Three Pagodas Pass has been quite unstable.
Since June 20, the Burmese Army has reinforced its troops at the Southeast Command with tanks and artillery weapons. It is believed that the Burmese Army is not only planning to fight KNU, but also the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and its MNLA troops in Kawkareik Township of Karen State.
