Twenty-three members of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (Splinter DKBA), also known as Klohtoobaw Karen Organization (KKO), led by Soe Soe surrendered to the Burma Army along with their arms and ammunition on 7 January, according to the press release by the Office of the Burma Army’s Commander-in-Chief.
The Splinter DKBA/KKO members contacted the officials of the Burma Army and brought eight assorted weapons, 149 rounds of bullets, eight magazines, three bombs and seven mines.
According to the press release of the Office of the Burma Army’s Commander-in-Chief, the defected members surrendered to the Burma Army because they cannot accept the attitudes of the Splinter DKBA/KKO and they want to live in peace.
The defected members have also come to realize the true attitudes of the Burmese government and the Burma Army towards ethnic people, the press release says.
Currently, the defected members have been placed in the area controlled by the Burma Army in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State, local authorities said.
The Splinter DKBA/KKO broke away from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) on 21 July, 2015 and was reorganized on 12 January, 2016.
Five Splinter DKBA members surrendered to the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) last month while seven members surrendered to the Burma Army in Myawaddy Township on 1 January.
KIC News was unable to contact the Splinter DKBA to inquire about these matters.
Translated by Thida Linn
