The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) based at a monastery in Myaing Gyi Ngu village, Hlaing Bwe Township, Karen State, was twice attacked by a the Border Guard Force (BGF) on April 28.
A source close to the DKBA, who asked not to be named, told Karen News that fighting was between BGF Battalion 1011 under the command of Major Saw Soe Naing and the DKBA, Kalo Htoo Lar Operation Command, led by Colonel Saw Bi. As a result of the fighting a BGF solider was killed and one wounded.
The BGF are a militia under the control of the Burma Army and were formed out of a DKBA breakaway faction.
The DKBA source confirmed that the BGF launched two attacks in what has been an escalating breakdown in relations between the two groups.
“The 906th DKBA Battalion based at the monastery in Myaing Gyi Ngu was attacked first by the BGF in the morning. The fighting lasted about an hour until the BGF withdrew. In the evening the BGF attacked the DKBA position again for around 30 minutes.”
Scared of getting caught up in the fighting Myaing Gyi Ngu villagers crossed the west bank of the Salween River and took temporary refugee in Kamamuang Township.
Tension between the two militia groups intensified after four soldiers from the 1014th BGF Battalion, were attacked by the DKBA Kalo Htoo Lar Operations Command on the Salween River on April 26, that resulted in the killing of a BGF soldier.
In retaliation, Saw Daw Bo, a BGF Battalion Company Commander arrested four DKBA soldiers from the in Mae Tha Waw region on April 27. Villagers claim the situation in the region is now serious and they fear the fighting will spread making it difficult for them to work their farms or travel.
