Two soldiers of the Burmese Army were killed and three injured, while carrying ballot boxes from Taung Suan to Chaung Sone village, when they were ambushed by members of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) at 10:40 am on October 26.

The KNLA battalion No. 16 ambushed the column, which had 60 soldiers from LIB 405 under the MOC 8, led by Lt. Col. Myo Myint Aung. The column carrying ballot boxes for the elections on November 7 was attacked between Ar Palone and Hlaing Thayar village.

“The KNLA battalion No. 16 confirmed that two soldiers of the Burmese Army were killed and three injured. We often attack them, when they patrol this area, if we get a chance. I heard there was another gun battle on October 26 morning. We don’t have the exact information on causalities,” Maj. Saw Htel Nay from KNLA battalion No. 16 told KIC.

Though KNLA confirmed that five Burmese Army soldiers were injured in this attack, a Kyar Inn Seik Gyi local said nine soldiers were wounded.

“A Burmese Army officer confirmed that when they were ambushed, they were on their way to ‘Three Pagoda Pass’ with five ballot boxes. One ballot box was for Chaung Sone and four boxes were for ‘Three Pagoda Pass’,” the local said.

On October 26 the Burmese Army’s LIB 405 came to Chaung Sone village from Taung Suan. The column took some villagers as rout-seekers from Kyan Inn Seik Gyi Township. The column arrested one KNU officer from Kwe Kachaw village but the KNU did not confirm it.

Under the MOC 8, LIB 405 has column 1 and 2 with over 100 soldiers based in Chaung Sone village. The column, which carried the ballot boxes, was column 1.