Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Mizzima has disproved reports that Myawaddy, on the Burmese side of the border with Thailand, had been overrun by a breakaway faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) this evening.
Burmese media reports, picked up internationally, alleged that the former DKBA 5th Brigade led by Colonel Saw La Pwe, popularly known as Bo Moustache, had today taken control of key positions in Myawaddy – the border town opposite Mae Sot in Thailand. They cited Bo Moustache as claiming that junta troops and police had fled the town. Mizzima contacted local residents this afternoon, and as well as township administrative officials, border guard forces and officials from the Karen National Union (KNU) to verify this news. All interviewed stated that the Myawaddy had not been taken by the DKBA splinter group.
KNU vice-chairman David Tharkapaw
“We heard this news too. It’s impossible because there are a lot of junta troops stationed in Myawaddy. If this news is true, we will see a lot of fighting with these troops”.
Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion 1019 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Saw Hlaing Thein
“How can Myawaddy be seized without firing a single shot? Did he seize the town in person? Which place did he seize – a bush? This news is nonsense. When we were in the KNU we had to fight hard to enter Myawaddy. I doubt if he could enter Myawaddy without firing a single shot. Myawaddy is currently calm and quiet. Military Operation Command 19 has more than 4,000 personnel and the BGF has more than 4,000 troops deployed in Myawaddy. It’s not true”.
Myawaddy resident
“The news that Myawaddy has been seized by DKBA is not true. I have visited the police station myself and didn’t find any armed DKBA soldiers in the town. If this news is true, they must have seized the key government departments. There are no signs of such seizure. The town is calm and quiet.”
Immigration officer
“No, this is not true. It would be clear if it was true. One would hear gunfire in the town notice that something in the town is different. It must be a trick. If it were true, you would find DKBA soldiers in uniform roaming in the town. They’re not allowed even wearing their uniforms here, let alone bearing arms”.
KNU general secretary Major Saw Hla Ngwe
“When I contacted my men in Myawaddy, they replied to me that enemy outposts had been overrun. We can’t confirm this news. We haven’t seen anything overrun, seizures or positioning of DKBA troops, based on our understanding of military training and tactics. There are no signs of occupation of the town. There are no facts to support or confirm these reports.”
