Border Guard Force (BGF) outposts near the Shwe Kokko-Yatai New City development project came under attack by KNLA and allied forces on Wednesday, leading to ongoing clashes, according to officials of the KNLA’s political wing, the Karen National Union (KNU).
Ongoing battles between Junta forces the Lion batallion (PDF) another PDF the Cobra column and the KNLA this week near the town of Shwe Kokko, north of Myawaddy Karen State, has forced an estimated 8000 villagers were forced to flee across the Thai border.
On the evening of April 6, the Lion Battalion Commando Special Forces Strategic Column announced that over 85 troops from the Border Guard Forces (BGF) were killed during a two-day battle on April 5 and 6 in Shwe Kokko town, located in Myawaddy Township, Karen State.
According to the statement, the Strategic Column captured five hill-based military outposts belonging to the BGF and seized over 75 various weapons during the battle. The attack is still ongoing.
The battle took place near Shwe Kokko in the area of KNU Brigade 7 but controlled by Junta’s BGF ally which is also on the payroll of a shadowy Chinese company “Yatai International” engaged in extortion rackets, casinos, and trafficking.
This is the first time that the KNLA 7 th Brigade has participated in revolutionary action since the coup, It is Brigade 6 that has been in constant action fighting Junta troops in the Myawaddy district, where more airstrikes took place on Inner and outer Mae Kanae villages.
A relief worker told Narinjara that as a result of these air strikes and conflict, the local population of approximately 8,000 had to cross the Moei River and flee to the Thai side during the last two days.
He added,”We have opened 6 relief camps. As more displaced people have arrived in the evening, we are continuously sending them food and shelter. The weather is hot and we need a lot of drinking water. Myanmar in Mae Sot also donates.”
The source also mentioned that the Thai military is in charge of ensuring the safety and security of the relief camps. It has been reported that the Thai army has been sending those who fled, back inside BGF- controlled territory where some Thai business films have operations inside the Chinese -run New City complex.
