Yangon (Chindwin) : Myanmar military junta is increasingly being hit with another heavy casualties in the clashes with Karen National Liberation Army – an arm wing of Karen National Union (KNU) under Brigade 5. Fighting reportedly intensifies in the areas under control by KNU as the military junta and its proxy force – Border Guard Force (BGF) are ramping up its offensive against the KNU’s force.
The Karen National Liberation Army’s clashes with the military junta troops together with the Border Guard Force (BGF) had occurred in the area of Brigade 5, Karen National Union (KNU) -Mudaw (Hpapun) district since November, according to local sources.
The military junta and Border Guard Force (BGF) have been fighting against KNLA (Karen National Liberation Army) lately and the military junta is stepping up sending its reinforcements to Karen State to increase its offensive against the KNU.
The military junta has had hundreds of clashes with KNLA in a bid to gain more territory control over the area, according to a statement issued by the KNU on November 16.
According to a press release from KNU-Mudaw District on 11 November, soldiers of Light Infantry Battalion 406 were stationed around Tuangtunglone, Mahtaw village tract, Dwelo Township in Hpapun District, and there were five clashes with KNLA forces on the day, resulting in 14 deaths of the military junta troops with 21 others injured.
On November 12, another clash took place in the same area and 14 soldiers of the junta, including a battalion commander and a company captain were killed, with another 34 injured, reported the Mudaw District News.
It is also reported that another clash between KNLA and the junta forces occurred in Bawkyohta on the same day, killing four of the junta soldiers with one injured, according to the KNU’s Mudaw District.
The KNU’s Mudaw District reported that a total of 32 soldiers, including a battalion commander and a company captain were killed and 56 others were injured in the clashes, but the KNLA does not officially release the casualty report yet.
Residents in the nearby areas are worried that fighting will intensify in the area of Brigade 5, Karen National Union (KNU) -Mudaw (Hpapun) district as there is a fear of the military reinforcements between Kamamaung and Hpapun, Mahtaw, Bawkyohta and Khawpoh areas.