KNLA 7th Brigade loses a quarter of its territory

by Mizzima News
Thursday, 09 July 2009 13:20

Chiang Mai (mizzima) – After a month-long fierce military offensive, the joint forces of the Burmese Army and Karen splinter group – the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) – have taken possession of much of the 7th Brigade base of the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union.

KNU’s Secretary (1), Maj. Saw Hla Ngwe said, the KNLA’s 7th Brigade has lost about 25 per cent of its base to the joint enemy forces. It is being forced to operate in small areas of their base while much of their former territories have become a no man’s land.

“About 25 per cent of the total territory has been occupied by them [DKBA and Burmese Army]. At the most, 40 per cent of this territory has become a no man’s land,” Maj. Saw Hla Ngwe told Mizzima on Wednesday.

“It is because they might erect fences, plant land mines and booby traps, as security measures our troops are operating in about 20 per cent in this no man’s land day and night, to avoid landmines,” he said.

Reportedly, the fighting between the KNU and a joint force of the Burmese Army and DKBA, which began in early June, is petering off though there are reports of sporadic clashes.

According to Saw Hla Ngwe, the enemy suffered heavy losses during the campaign with at least 84 soldiers of the DKBA killed and another 175 injured. While the Burmese Army lost about 10 soldiers and two were wounded, the KNU lost only one soldier and eight were injured. However, the Karen resistance group has lost many areas.

Movements of soldiers from both sides in the battle field have been largely limited as landmines and booby traps abound in the area, sources said.

Meanwhile, the KNLA, in a change of strategy, are now said to be preparing for an urban warfare, which they have never been good at, and are into reconnaissance tours behind the enemy lines.

Saw Hla Ngwe said the latest military operation against the KNLA only proves that the Burmese regime has no desire to resolve the problems through political means but are keen to suppress with military might and violence.

Following the military offensive, rights groups said, at least 3,000 Karen refugees have fled their homes in eastern Burma to Thailand.