A number of DKBA members held a military parade to celebrate their transformation into the Burmese Army’s Border Guard Force (BGF) in Myine Kyi Ngu area, Hlain Bwe Township, Karen State, yesterday.

Lt. Gen. Ye Myint from the Ministry of Defence, Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win, commander of southeast military command, Maj. Gen Zaw Min, Chairman of Karen State Peace and Development Council, Vice-Adjutant Maj. Gen Hla Shwe from the Ministry of Defence, Maj. Gen. Maung Maung Ohn, Directorate of Public Relations and Border Troops, Maj. Gen Than Soe, Directorate of People Militias and Psychological Warfare, Gen Hlaing Myint, Directorate of Central Military Account and other high ranking officials attended the celebrations.

Saw Thar Htoo Kyaw, Chairman of DKBA, Maj Gen Kyaw Than, Vice-Chairman of DKBA, Maj Gen Htun Hlaing, commanders and other ranks attended. At the ceremony, they took oath. Army ranks were given to DKBA officers.

Maj. Gen. Thet Nain Win, commander of southeast military command, Major General Maung Maung Own, and Maj. Gen. Kyaw Than, Vice-Chairman of DKBA, delivered speeches at the ceremony.

“Seventeen ceasefire and small groups have been working together with the state, the army and people for national development from1988 to 1990. DKBA promises to work together with the Burmese Army and to guard the border areas loyally after the Karen armed group has transformed into the BGF,” Kyaw Than said.

The junta will be providing funds to DKBA troops, who have joined BGF and offered aid-funds to retired officers and injured members of DKBA.

Local Karen people in traditional clothes were forced to join the ceremony by DKBA.

“We were forced to attend wearing our traditional clothes. Twenty people from each village had to attend. We could not refuse,” a local woman who joined the celebrations told KIC.

Even though Myein Gyi Nyuu sayar daw U Thu Zana, advisor to DKBA, did not attend the ceremony, about 600 DKBA soldiers attended. Another transformation ceremony was held in Pyaing Kyone Township today and one more will be held in Myawaddy Township on 22 August.

Lt. Col. Saw Ligh Theint, battalion commander of No. 7 regiment under DKBA 999 Brigade said “We, DKBA are waiting to attend the ceremony of transforming into BGF. We are ready to participate on the occasion.”

“When we became DKBA members, we had to swear under the religious flag to protect our nationality, religion, our people and their properties, faithfully. Taking up arms by every ethnic group is for the protection of their nationality. After DKBA transforms into BGF, they cannot do anything for their people and cannot be proud among ethnics,” an officer from DKBA Brigade 5, which has rejected the BGF proposal said.

DKBA Brigade 5 led by Col. Saw Lar Pwe (Nuak Kham Mwe) will maintain its stand.

The DKBA is now totally under the control of the junta.. It is like “if the Burmese Army says you have to 'die', then they have to kill themselves; and if it says ‘live’, then, they have to stay alive,” a local, who is close to DKBA said.

On the advice of abbot U Thu Zana, DKBA was formed after the Karen armed group split from the Karen National Union (KNU) in 1994. They remained an ethnic armed group for 15 years since 1994 before changing to BGF before the general election due on November 7 this year.