The Myanmar military responded to a complaint this week over their demolishing of a checkpoint manned by Karen National Union (KNU) saying it was outside of their territory.

The Tatmadaw (Defence Services) demolished the newly built checkpoint of the KNU at the junction of Khalane-Chaungwa in Shwegyin Township, Nyanuglaybin District in a KNU controlled area on June 2.

Tatmadaw True News Information Team said that KNU usually intruded into the urban area and operating on the highway in the pretext of doing the work of COVID-19 prevention so that they had to demolish this unauthorized checkpoint.

“We have nothing to do if they do this work in their controlled area but they entered the urban area which is in the jurisdiction and under the mandate of the government. The government can do this work themselves and they are doing this work too. And also our Tatmadaw can do this work and we are doing them. These unauthorized checkpoints and operation area will be theirs later unless we intervene in it. And there will be conflict in a controlled area dispute so that we had to demolish it,” True News Team secretary Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said.

KNU COVID-19 prevention committee built this checkpoint on June 2 in the morning to check the entry and exit of people in this hilly area for the prevention of the pandemic.

KNU Nyaunglaybin District COVID-19 Prevention Committee contact person Pado Saw Kalae Mu Tu said to media that this checkpoint was demolished on the same day in the evening.

Under the mandate of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signed by the KNU and the Tatmadaw, work on health and social issues shall be worked together in cooperation among the signatories of the agreement but the controlled area must be taken into consideration carefully, Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun added.

“We are also in cooperation with them. We are helping the KNU in many areas. The government is also cooperating with them by forming consultation teams at National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC). But we must take care of each controlled area in doing this work. Intruding into the area very close to an urban area in the pretext of COVID-19 prevention work is nonsense. I’d like to say we need to refrain from crossing lines,” Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said.

The KNU reportedly has 14 checkpoints for COVID-19 prevention work in Nyaunglaybin District alone.