Karen soldiers ambush Burmese army in Three Pagoda Pass area

IMNA
In two separate incidents, violence has continued to occur in Three Pagoda Pass (TPP) Township, according to local sources. In both incidents, attacks have targeted Burmese troops or facilities.

On Sunday the 13th, Burmese army troops from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 356 were ambushed by KNU troops from Brigade No. 6 near Chanungzone village, TPP Township according to local source.

According to an officer of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) based in the area, LIB No. 356 troops were on their way to join up with LIB No. 283 in the recently captured Maketa village. However before they arrived, LIB No. 356 was ambushed by KNU soldiers. Chanungzone village is about 15 Kilometer from TPP town.

“We heard from Burmese authorities 4 Burmese soldiers were injured in the ambush,” the NMSP officer said to IMNA. “One was shot in the stomach, two were hit in the leg and I am not sure about the 4th soldier.”

According to a source close to Burmese authorities form Three Pagoda Pass town, the KNU ambush led to a brief firefight lasting 10 minutes. No KNU soldiers were killed or injured.

However the number of injured and killed is disputed, with a KNU Captain stating that 4 Burmese soldiers were killed and 6 were injured in the brief skirmish.

On the night of the 14th, a bomb also detonated outside of the Burmese military government Land Grant Office in Three Pagodas Pass town. According to sources, there were no injuries from the nighttime attack.

It remains unclear which group is responsible for the blast, though according to source close to Burmese government forces, authorities believe that the bomb attack was carried out by the KNU. However a KNU Captain has denied to IMNA the KNU’s involvement, stating that the KNU never carries out attacks like this that threaten civilian lives.

On June 21st, 2009 after months of fighting, KNU Brigade No. 7 base fell to a combined assault by Burmese army forces, and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). Since the DKBA and Burmese army forces have been building up their troop levels around the heavily contested KNU held Brigade No. 6 area.

A July report by the Human rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) details the potential for a humanitarian crisis occurring from an assault by DKBA and Burmese army forces against KNU troops in the Brigade No. 6 area.

Brigade No. 6 has been at the heart of the KNU held territory since resistance began in 1948 when the KNU began fighting the Burmese government.