Sangkhlaburi -- The Karen National Union (KNU) has initiated a guerrilla offensive to counter the Burmese Army’s military tactics during the dry season.

According to a KNU source, around 15 battalions from KNU Brigade No. 4 attacked the Burmese Army’s Infantry Battalion No. 557, led by Major Aung Myo Than, near Amoe Village of Metta Sub-township, in Tavoy District on March 27. Eleven soldiers of the Burmese Army were critically injured.

Among those injured are Lt. Thet Aung (Ka/36927), Sergeant Soe Win, Sgt. Than Zin Aung and Corporal Soe Thant, who died in Sinpyudaing Village, on the way to Tavoy Hospital, the KNU source said.

The Infantry Battalion No. 557 is under the command of Tactical Operation Command 1, Sakakha 13 (Military Operation Command 13).

Meanwhile, the KNU Battalion No.16 attacked a column of the Burma Army Infantry Battalion No. 32, along the Three Pagodas Pass and Thanbyuzayat (Zobbu) motor road.  One Burmese Army soldier was killed and another was seriously injured, during the two skirmishes between Pa-Pya and Paya and between Pa-Pya and Kyon-Khun at 14:20 local time on March 28.

The Infantry Battalion No. 32 was on the way to Three Pagodas Pass border town, to replace the Infantry Battalion No. 24.  I.B 32, under the command of Southeast Command, is based in KyaIn-Seik-Kyi town in Karen State

According to a retired MNLA officer, the KNU has changed its military tactics from a position of war to a war of movement, in which approximately 3000 troops focus on ambush tactics, in its defensive war against the Burma Army.  The KNU had grown weaker since the breakaway of DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) and the fall of Marnerplaw in 1995.

During a recent interview with Irrawaddy, Phado David Htaw, a member of the KNU Central Executive Committee, said many Karen people had escaped as refugees and could not support the movement. The KNU has been trying to cope with assistance from international organizations.