The Splinter DKBA made the statement on 19 October.

Colonel Saw San Aung of the Splinter DKBA said to KIC: ““Now there are many obstructions against us so it is very difficult for us to meet them at this time. To what extent will the responsible person take responsibility? How will we unite? How will we accept it? It is impossible for us to take off our DBKA badge and live peacefully.”

He also said that the Splinter DKBA could publicly renounce policies it has that are discriminatory towards the KNU before reuniting with the group, but that both groups would have to make public pledges to each other if they are to reunite.

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army was originally formed in 1994 as a splinter group from the KNU. When the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army was formed they issued policy announcements 1/94 and 2/94 rejecting the KNU.

Later, in 2009 the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army then became a Border Guard Force (BGF) and started working with the government but the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DBKA) did not want to join the BGF and splintered from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and changed its name from Buddhist to Benevolent.

After splitting from the DKBA, the Splinter DKBA issued a statement on 16 January 2016 saying it would continue to stand by the declarations made by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army when it split from the KNU in 1994.

On 4 October 2015 the KNU released a statement welcoming a reunion with the Splinter DKBA as long as the group renounced policies 1/94 and 2/94.

There has been continued fighting between the Burma Army assisted by Border Guard Forces (BGF) and the Splinter DKBA in the Mae Tha Wor area of Karen State since September 2016 and the Burma Army and BGF have seized several Splinter DKBA camps.

On 19 October The Splinter DKBA clashed with the Burma Army and BGF Battalion 1017 at Phayargone in Mi Phar Le Village, Kawkareik Township. Both sides suffered casualties.

The KNU also blame the Splinter DKBA for the 10 October ambush on the vehicle of the commander of Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Battalion 17 under KNU Brigade 6, which injured three KNLA soldiers.

Padoh Saw Thawthi Bwe, the joint secretary of the KNU said: “Suspicions and worries [we have] against each other can only be resolved after holding discussions. I want to inform them [the Splinter DKBA] that they can contact our lower-level commanders one way or another if they want to meet with us.”

Following fighting between DKBA forces and the Burma Army on the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asian Highway in July 2015, the DKBA, led by former General Saw Lah Pwe, also known as Bo Hna Khan Hmwe, sacked some of its members. The sacked members then formed the Splinter DKBA on 16 January 2016.

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI