Union government troops are not to be blamed for the recent outbreak of fighting between the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and the Tatmadaw, U Ye Htut, presidential spokesperson told Mizzima on September 29.
“The current issue is only with the DKBA, not armed Karen groups as a whole,” said the U Ye Htut, “they are walking around carrying weapons and stopping cargo trucks from Thailand. We have warned them not to interfere with the administration and no country would accept such a breach of the rule of law.”
He added the leaders of the Tamadaw and DKBA were negotiating to solve the present conflict, so as not to harm the on-going national peaceprocess of which the DKBA are a party.
“We expect it to be settled soon,” said U Ye Htut.
Four civilian passengers were reportedly injured in fighting on the Kawkareik-Thamanya road near the village of Thurain, Kawkareik Township, Kayin State when there bus travelling from Myawaddy came under machine-gun fire at about 1.30pm on September 28, Major Naing Maung Zaw of the Border Guard Force told Mizzima on September 29. He added that investigations were underway to identify the responsible group.
Second Lieutenant Saw Say Wa, of the DKBA told Mizzima on September 29 that there had been a skirmish on the Kawkareik-Thamanya road near the village tract of TaungKya Inn, Kawkareik Township.
Other examples of fighting in Kayin State between the Tatmadaw and DKBA have been reported since September 26.
