Lt. Col Htay Kyaing of the command used four villagers from Anankwin village situated about 35 miles west of TPP town to carry the injured soldiers to Thanpyuzayart town for treatment over the last two days.
According to sources, the porters were forced to carry the two wounded soldiers from Anankwin village to Yethakun village over a distance of 10 miles.
The four reporters, returned home yesterday. The porters are U Moe Kyaw (37) Kyaw Thi Ha (39), Pho Htay (35) and Sein Nyo (36) from Anankwin village.
The fire fight between the Burma Army and the Karen rebels occurred for about 15 minutes near Koun Kharn village near Anankwin village where the Tactical Command is based. One Burmese soldier died and two were injured.
According to local people, the Burmese Army regularly uses villagers in the area as porters and commandeers vehicles plying on the Thanpyuzayart-TPP road. The Burmese Army and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) regularly clash and the KNLA ambushed the Burmese troop for about eight minutes near the TPP town.
