A Tatmadaw (Burmese Army) frontline commander has been trying to buy guns so that he can pass them off to his superiors as captured weapons to avoid being reprimanded for suffering heavy casualties.
Infantry Battalion 296, based in Ta–Kaw under the command of the Eastern Infantry Division, suffered heavier casualties than other battalions when they took part in the attack on the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP/SSA) camp at Hta Pha Saung in Kyethi Township, Southern Shan State from 2nd to 5th October.
Lt. Col. Ye Ko, the commander of Battalion 296 told one of his Captains to ask members of the People’s Militia Forces (PMF) to try and find guns to buy according to an unnamed PMF officer.
He said: “They requested our help to try and buy as many guns as possible for them, particularly M22 assault rifles. It could be so that they can claim in reports to their senior officers that the guns were seized in battle. So far we have been unable to buy any guns.”
The M22 assault rifle is the main weapon used by the ethnic armed forces in Burma.
Another source close to the battalion speculated that the commander wanted to pretend he had captured the guns from the SSPP/SSA to avoid being punished by his superiors for suffering such high casualties with no apparent gain.
The government has already signed a union level peace agreement with the SSPP/SSA.
