KNLA commander lashes out at ‘rumour mongers’

by Daniel Pedersen
Monday, 11 May 2009 16:18

Mae Sot - Rumours that two other sons of the late Karen National Union stalwart General Bo Mya, Nerdah and Tu Lu, are about to engage in talks with Burma’s ruling military junta have been angrily dispelled by Nerdah.

“I mean, where are these rumours coming from? Are they beginning with NGOs? Nerdah asked.

“Is it necessary to organise a meeting with them all? Perhaps then they might be satisfied, if I sit down in front of all of them and directly tell them that I am not changing sides,” he said, furious at once again having been questioned as to where his allegiances lay.

Rumours that Nerdah and Tu Lu, both commanders in the KNU’s armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, were about to defect have been circulating since last year, when their youngest brother Tay Lay travelled to Naypyitaw to discuss lucrative terms on which to switch camps.

He did so early this year, relocating inside Burma, at the behest of his uncle, former KNLA Brigadier General Htein Maung and the shadowy figure “Pastor Timothy”.

Htein Maung is alleged to have stolen money from the KNLA’s Seventh Brigade, of which he was commander.

While Burma’s junta, the State Peace and Development Council, trumpeted Tay Lay’s defection as a huge blow to their enemies, senior KNU figures have played down its significance.

Some executive office holders said he was not even a particularly valuable soldier, never having undergone basic training.

Nerdah, a KNLA Colonel, said the persistent rumours were undermining the Karen struggle and he would do everything in his power to discount them.

He said he questioned the motivation of some NGOs, who appeared intent on fomenting rumours of dissension.

“With the enemy so close, this is not what we need, surely that is obvious to anyone,” he said.

“It is absurd to think the SPDC can be negotiated with in any manner,” he said.

“In whose interests would it be then,” Nerdah asked rhetorically, “to continuously question KNLA commanders’ alliances?”

The KNU leadership harbours deep concerns about some NGOs operating in the Karen theatre of war, suggesting they are doing their best to undermine and isolate them from their ethnic minority allies.