Members of the Karen Peace Force, a cease-fire group, have been directed by the Burmese Army to form a Border Guard Force, it has been learnt.
According to a Karen officer, senior officers from Naypyidaw and General Thet Naing Win from the Southeast Command met Karen Peace Force, Chairman, Saw Thamu Hel, Vice-Chairman Saw Daw Daw and Secretary Mahn Aung Tin Myint at the Southeast Command Headquarters in Moulmein on March 30, 2009.
During the meeting, Karen leaders were told by the Burma Army to form a Border Guard of 3 battalions in Kya-In Seik-Kyi, Kyaik Don and at the Three Pagodas Pass on the Thai-Burma border. Arms and other supplies, including one hundred M-16 rifles, one hundred AK 47 rifles, five vehicles, two motorcycles and five bicycles, would be provided by the Burmese Army. Remuneration for their services would be Kyat 30,000 for a private and Kyat 120,000 for a Lieutenant and Captain.
The combined KPF security force is composed of over one thousand men, one border guard battalion, which includes 326 troops and 18 officers.
There are three commanders in the rank of Major, who lead each battalion, comprising of two Majors drawn from the ceasefire groups and one major drawn from the Burmese Army.
“The KPF leaders have no option but to agree to the demands, but many soldiers are not satisfied with this arrangement, because we are under the control of the Burmese Army, for example the letter ‘K’ (for Karen) has been removed,” a KPF officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
According to the new Constitution, the local administrative bodies can legislate on rural projects, construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, public health, developmental affairs, conservation and preservation of forests, water and electricity in the ceasefire areas or self-administered zones.
The Karen Peace Force, led by Saw Thamu Hel, was formed in February 1997, after it split from the KNU of No. 6 Brigade and surrendered to the Burma Army.
As the general elections of 2010 approaches, the Burmese Army plans to control all armed ethnic ceasefire groups to provide security along the border. In Tang Yang town, of North Eastern Shan State, Chief Military Affairs Security, Maj-Gen Ye Myint met UWSA leaders on April 28, and urged the cease-fire troops to become border guards.
