The New Mon State Party (NMSP) released six members of a breakaway group of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) that they had detained, near the Thai-Myanmar border on September 20th.
According to a spokesperson of the NMSP Nai Aung Ma Ngay, “We went to clear up their camp September 17th and detained six people along with five guns [that came] from General Saw San Aung’s armed group. We released the detained people… yesterday [Sept. 20] and told them to make their way to a place where they want to go.”
The DKBA (breakaway) armed group led by General Saw San Aung arrived in the NMSP controlled-area a few months ago. On September 14th-16th, the NMSP visited the DKBA army camp/base advising the group not to set up their camp in the area, but they did not accept the deal, said Nai Aung Ma Ngay.
“They cannot base their camp near us. We have asked them to move out, but they did not agree. Therefore, we told them that we are going to take action. Our army then cleared up their camp. No casualties have occurred,” he added.
Mon News Agency sought a comment from General Saw San Aung, but his phone indicated it was out of service.
General Saw Kyaw Thet, speaking on behalf of the DKBA breakaway group was interviewed by KIC news on September 20. He said at that time, “I do not know the details as I am far away from the area. I knew that some of our members had met with them (NMSP) on the Thai side. They [NMSP] detained our members on their way back then asked to show them our camp. They started shooting at us first, so we had to shoot back. I have heard that six of our members remain in custody.”
An analysis of the situation was offered to MNA from some observers of border conflicts. They suggest the armed group separated itself from the DKBA in order to assert more authority regarding territory between the Border Guard Force and the Tamattaw based in Hpa-An and Hlaing Bwe. This may have sparked the current conflict. There have been reports of the breakaway groups presence in the area near the Three Pagoda Pass area for the last 6 months.
