By LAWI WENG & THU RAIN – In Three Pagodas Pass, around 80 high school students, currently in the 10th grade, are experiencing difficulty taking the nationalized 10th grade exam in Kyar Inn Seik Gyi Township, Karen State due to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade No. 6 blocking off the main trade route from Thanphyuzyart Township to Three Pagodas Pass.
One father of a tenth grade student in Three Pagodas Pass explained, “We heard that all students will leave [for the test] on February 25th. But, we are still unsure.”
Burma will hold the tenth grade high school examination throughout Burma on March 7th. Three Pagodas Pass is a sub-township within the Kyar Inn Seik Gyi Township, and, therefore, all students will need to go to Kyar Inn Seik Gyi to take the exam.
One source close to a military officer from the KNLA (armed wing of the Karen National Union) Brigade No. 6 said that the KNLA will open the road for students for a limited amount of time.
“We will open it from February 10th to 27th. Only a limited time,” he said.
Teachers from Three Pagodas Pass have already collected 3,000 baht from each student for travel to the exam in Kyar Inn Seik Gyi Township.
About 6 Karen Buddhist monks have also decided to travel with the students for security believing that the KNLA is less likely to disturb the group if monks are in attendance.
The KNLA has not allowed any vehicles to travel in its area of control since December 10, 2010. The road has been sealed off in order to stop all movement of junta troops and food supplies for the military in Three Pagodas Pass and the surrounding conflict areas.
Many areas around Three Pagodas Pass are KNLA strongholds, and the Burmese junta troops and KNLA have been fighting off and on since the end of the November 7th elections last year.
Eyewitnesses from Three Pagodas Pass have observed six 120 mm artillery in town after the transport of military supplies by the Burmese army last week.
More artillery has led observers to believe that the junta troops are preparing for increased fighting and the seizure of KNLA mining areas to become under the control of the Burmese army.
Three Pagodas Pass sources have reported that the Burmese regime has made a business arrangement with the Thai army to sell antimony, a chemical element found in mines, if the Burmese army is able to seize the KNLA mining areas.
Meanwhile, residents outside Three Pagodas pass have been forced to carry food on their own, traveling by foot, instead of car, through mountainous terrain to get to their villages.
