Thursday, July 21, 2011

Government troops open artillery barrage near Myawaddy

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Thursday, 21 July 2011 21:22 Phanida

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Artillery attacks by Burmese government troops moved close to Myawaddy on the Thai-Burmese border as they fired heavy weapons into the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) area in Karen State on Tuesday and Wednesday.

DKBA troops stand for inspection. Photo: Mizzima
A total of 60 Burmese soldiers from the government’s Infantry Unit No. 357 and Border Guard Force Unit No. 1022, led by Lieutenant Bo Shay, fired heavy weapons into the DKBA area near “Stone Mountain,” three miles southeast of Myawaddy.

“They fired heavy weapons from the Lakkhattaung Monastery into our troop area. They fired because they were worried that we would go to the town and attack,” said Major Kawdosoe, the second in command of DKBA Battalion No. 907.

Burmese government troops started their artillery fire on Tuesday, stopped firing for a while, and resumed firing on Wednesday night.

DKBA Captain Saw San Aung said that government troops opened fire because they had hearsay reports that DKBA Major General Bo Moustache’s troops were active near Myawaddy.

Government troops warned villagers that they would fire heavy weapons and told them not to go outside their villages, Captain Saw San Aung said.

Similarly, small clashes between Kawkareik-based DKBA troops led by Colonel Kyaw Thet and government troops broke out, according to Major Kawdosoe, the second in command of DKBA Battalion No. 907.

A resident in Myawaddy said that the sound of heavy weapons could be heard in Myawaddy for two straight nights.

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