Despite being under tremendous pressure from within the fold and the Burmese military junta, Col. Saw Lar Pwel (Bo Nauk Kham Mwe), commander of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Brigade 5, has refused to meet Gen. Ye Myint on the contentious issue of transforming to the Border Guard Force (BGF), according to his juniors.

A commander, on the condition of anonymity for security reasons, told KIC that Gen. Ye Myint telephoned A Pho (Saw Lar Pwel) around 4 pm on July 21 to discuss the BGF issue in Myeingyi Ngu on July 22. A Pho did not agree. He said there was no reason to go there.

Gen. Kyaw Than, commander-in-chief of DKBA, came to the military base of Col. Saw Lar Pwel in Wal Lay area in Kawkareik Township last week. He tried to persuade the Colonel to agree to BGF but failed, a DKBA officer said.

All DKBA brigades, including executives signed an agreement for transforming into BGF except the Kalobaw strategic command under DKBA Brigade 5. Forces of Col. Lar Pwel, who has consistently refused to accept BGF, have been threatened by the Burmese Army.

"Brigades, battalions and leaders from headquarters are all ok. Only the Kalobaw strategic command refuses to accept BGF. Thus, the junta has threatened that the Burmese Army will dispatch two brigades to the area. The regime has ordered villagers to evacuate," a high-ranking officer, from DKBA Brigade 5 said.

Due to mounting military pressure, DKBA Brigade 5 is into counter military preparations deploying forces from flat land to the mountainous area, a DKBA officer from 907 Battalion said.

"Our commander has ordered that we be alert and ready. Other DKBA forces can also attack us instead of the Burmese Army," the officer told KIC.

Top leaders of DKBA Brigade 5 said Col. Saw Lar Pwel wants to stay on as DKBA and refuses to accept transforming into BGF. He does not want to place the arms in the hands of junta’s forces because the weapons were bought with people's money.

There are 1,200 soldiers in Kalobaw strategic command in five battalions serving under Col. Saw Lar Pwel, based in Kyar Inn Seikgyi and Kawkareik Township in Karen state.

The DKBA split from the KNU in 1994 and signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta. Now, the DKBA has over 4,000 troops and Brigade 5 is the second strongest armed unit after Brigade 999.