By Independent Mon News Agency – One the Military Intelligence officer and a nine-year-old girl were killed and three others were wounded when an unknown armed group attacked the Military Intelligence office at Three Pagodas Pass (TPP) around 3 p.m. today, near to the Thai-Burmese border.
Eyewitnesses said that five people wearing masks over their faces threw bombs at the Military Intelligence office and the Buddhist assembly hall where Burmese government troops were resting. Both buildings are in TPP town.
Kyaw Kyaw Aung, an officer of Military Intelligence, was killed from the bomb blast at office and the girl was shot while the armed group sprayed bullets the surrounding area according to eye witnesses.
Win Soe, another officer of Military Intelligence, was wounded, as was a member of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) who was inside the office at the time of the attack. A motorbike taxi driver was also wounded.
“They [the attackers] thought he [the member of NMSP] was a member of Military Intelligence because he was wearing a camouflage shirt. He was shot in the leg and shoulder while he was running out of the office,” said the eyewitness.
The five armed men entered the town in a car, and it is unknown who they were. Meanwhile, no armed group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Burmese authorities in TPP have tightened security since last week after they received information that the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) had plans to attack the town.
There are three ethnic armed groups based near TPP: NMSP, the Karen National Union, and DKBA. The town was attacked on November 8, 2010, one day after country held its national election, and the DKBA seized the town for a number of days.
