Jury Chai, Thu Rein : A fight between Burmese army battalions and the Karen National Union (KNU) on September 29th left 4 Burmese soldiers dead and 2 wounded near Three Pagodas Pass (TPP), Karen State.
Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 283 and 284, who recently transferred to TPP, along with columns from LIB 405, based in Tenasserim Division, are charged with the security of Tactical Commander Tin Maung. LIB 405 is led by Lieutenant Colonel Soe Myint Aung.
According to a witness, the battalions clashed with a group of guerrilla soldiers from KNU Brigade 6, company 2, at 6:30 am on the morning of the 29th. The fighting reportedly occurred between Ah Pa Lone village and Myingtaryar village in Karen State.
“4 solider died and 2 got wounds, these 2 soldiers [with wounds] are now at the Three Pagoda Pass hospital,” reported an anonymous defector from the battalions,who fled from the fighting.
The fighting occurred approximately 2.5 miles off of the main road between TPP and Thanphyuzayart, in an area roughly 18 miles northwest of TPP.
IMNA’s source from the battalions reported that at 11:20 am on the same day, after the Burmese battalions had left the site of the fighting, shots were heard from an area 2 miles away from the original battle site. As this individual knew of no KNU battalions patrolling this area, he was unable to speculate on what groups might have been involved in this second conflict.
LIB 283 and 284 marched from their previous base in Kyainnseikyi Township, Karen State, to their new assignment at TPP this week. The battalions’ relocation has been marked by conflict; Colonel Ba Doe Saw Htaynay from KNU Division 6, reported to IMNA that his men clashed with soldiers from LIB 283 near Laypoo village in Kyainnseikyi Township, while the battalion was en route to TPP. One soldier from LIB 283 was reported to have been wounded in the fight.
