Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) commander, Brigadier General Saw Lah Pwe, wants a peaceful resolution to the current armed conflict between the DKBA and government armed forces said Capt. Saw Soe Myint head of the Myawaddy DKBA liaison office.
He said: “Brigadier General Saw Lah Pwe wants to resolve the conflict through peaceful negotiations. Now we have done as much as we can to reduce tensions. Nai Han Thar of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordinating Team (NCCT), Union Minister U Aung Min, DKBA Major Lom Lom and government army leaders have also said that they will help us to reach an agreement.”
Armed clashes took place between the DKBA and government forces over three days at Kyeik Ma Yaw Township in Mon State on 26th September and near Nga-Pyay-Ma village in the area of Shwe-War-Chaung on 27th September and again at Kyeik Ma Yaw Township on 28th September.
During the fighting on the 26th September the DKBA temporarily detained 8 members of the government security forces before later releasing them that evening. A major from Infantry Battalion 208 also received an injury to his thigh and small arms fire wounded a corporal driving a car in the chest and a sergeant in the rear seat in his right arm.
The DKBA also seized seven guns and ammunition from Battalion 208, which the government has asked them to return.
Captain Saw Soe Myint and Major Nai Maung Zaw, the spokesman for Col. Saw Chit Thu of the Border Guard Force (BGF), said that a meeting was held to build understanding between both sides and bring an end to armed conflicts.
Capt. Saw Soe Myint said: “[DKBA] Brigadier General Kyaw Thet and the commandant of Military Operations Command (MOC) 2 met yesterday [29th September] and discussed assurances that there would be no more skirmishes. As an initial agreement we said that if they let our trapped troops leave the Kyeik Ma Yaw area we would return the weapons we have seized from them.”
Major Nai Maung Zaw said: “We are aware of yesterday’s meeting between Brigadier General Kyaw Thet and government army officials but we cannot reveal anymore details at present.”
On 27th September Lieutenant General Khin Zaw Oo, the commanding officer of the Bureau of Special Operations (BSP) no. 4 also made a statement saying that he hoped that the DKBA would control its army so that future clashes could be avoided.
Previously, in protest against the 2008 constitution and the 2010 General Election, DKBA troops fought with government troops near the border with Thailand at Myawaddy and Three Pagoda’s Township for nearly a month in 2010.
As a result of those clashes tens of thousands of residents of Myawaddy and Three Pagoda’s Township fled to Thailand as war refugees.
