He said: “Our vice commander-in-chief General Saw Moo Shae and the Kawkareik liaison officer in-charge, Major Thayae Ni, returned the weapons seized from the Kyaik Mayaw front-line to the 12th Military Operation Command (MOC-12) based in Kyaw Kareid Township of Karen State.”

The clash between the DKBA and the government troops commenced on 26th September. DKBA troops began shooting at a LIB-208 vehicle while a separate DKBA group led by Captain Thoo Aung marched into Kyaik Mayaw Town. Government personnel (including police, SB, and LIB-208) proceeded to move in to stop the insurgence. Three casualties were reported. A major from LIB-208 was shot and wounded in the leg, a sergeant suffered trauma to his chest and another driver sergeant was struck in the right shoulder.

Skirmishes repeatedly broke out days after the initial clash causing Pha-An based Division 22 to alert battalions under its command and pressure the DKBA for the eventual return of the government weapons.

It was reported that seven military weapons were seized by the DKBA during the fighting between the government troops and the DKBA on the Kyaik Mayaw battleground. It was also revealed that the weapons were from Light Infantry Battalion 208.

Myawaddy Liaison Office in-charge, Captain Soe Myint of the DKBA has also verified to Pophtaw News Association that the weapons seized by DKBA were returned to the Burmese army.

“The weapons were delivered at around 2:00 p.m. I was not there at the time, therefore I cannot say what took place in detail, but I can confirm that the weapons were returned”, said Soe Myint to Pophtaw News Association.

The exchange took place at Military Operation Command (MOC-12) in Kawkareik Township, Karen State. In attendance were division commanders from South Eastern Command, division commanders from MOC-12, and the vice commander-in-chief of the DKBA.