War began between KNU and SPDC

Junta launches fresh campaign against KNU

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

November 30, 2007 - Sporadic guerilla warfare has once again shaken eastern Burma's Karen State as the Burmese Army has begun a fresh offensive against the ethnic Karen's main armed resistant group, the Karen National Union (KNU), said the General Secretary of the group.

Padoh Man Sha, General Secretary of the KNU, told Mizzima that sporadic fighting has been ongoing in Kawkreik and Myawaddy Townships in the eastern regions of Burma since September, as columns of the Burmese Army - Light Infantry Battalions 230, 231 and 549 - push into areas controlled by the KNU's 6th Brigade.

"Fighting is continuing. Since they [Burmese army] are using human shields, we [KNU] have to utilize guerilla warfare tactics with sporadic attacks," Man Sha said.

Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw, a Karen journalist based on the Thai-Burmese border, said the Burmese Army is using the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), a Karen armed group which has a ceasefire agreement with the junta, in their campaign against the KNU.

"The current campaign is led by the DKBA, and the Burmese army is joining them. Sources close to the DKBA say they have proclaimed that they will capture areas controlled by the KNU's 6th Brigade within 3 months," Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw said.

She added that a source in Kawkreik Township, who is close to the DKBA, has revealed that the current campaign is designed to capture KNU dominated areas so as to clear the way for the construction of the Asian Highway, which is to pass through Kawkreik and Myawaddy Townships in Karen state.

The Burmese Army has joined the DKBA's Brigades 333, 907, 901 and Special Battalion 999 in the new campaign against the KNU.

"A DKBA Captain named Bo Mojo is said to have led the campaign and used villagers for portering as well as for human shields, to prevent the KNU from launching counter attacks," Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw said.

However, Man Sha said that counter offensives have killed several attacking troops, with the KNU suffering only a few casualties.

"Since they [the Burmese army and DKBA] are randomly pushing their way in, they suffer more casualties. Our boys launch sporadic guerilla attacks," Man Sha added.

However, Man Sha could not provide a casualty figure for either side.