KNU to abandon bases to save Karen lives
Posted on June 18, 2009
Filed Under Burma news, Karen news | Comments Off
Karen villagers flee fighting source: FBR
In order to avoid fighting their fellow Karen the Karen National Union (KNU) will abandon bases belonging to the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) 7th Brigade reports The Irrawaddy.
A joint force of troops from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Burmese Army launched an offensive against 7th Brigade earlier this month.
The DKBA split from the KNU in 1995 and signed a ceasefire with the ruling junta. KNU sources say the Burmese Army has been forcing DKBA troops to take the lead in the current offensive.
Rather than fight their fellow Karen, the KNU says it will abandon its bases and adopt guerrilla tactics instead.
The joint forces have already captured three KNLA bases since the start of the offensive. According to the KNU, about 20 pro-junta soldiers, mostly from the DKBA have been killed in the current offensive and 50 injured. Only five KNLA soldiers have been injured.
Over 4,000 Karen villagers have been forced to flee across the border into Thailand since the fighting began.
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