Tension Mounts at Three Pagodas Pass

By LAWI WENG

Thursday, August 13, 2009

More Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) troops are deploying near Three Pagodas Pass in preparation for an offensive against Brigade 6 of the Karen National Liberation Army, according to local sources.

A businessman at Three Pagodas Pass said that about 80 DKBA soldiers arrived last week to set up a new battalion at Three Pagodas Pass, which is 3 kilometers from the township.

More troops are to come, according to the businessman.

About 1,000 Burmese troops are on their way to the area, according to the New Mon State Party (NMSP).

The sources said that a joint DKBA and Burmese force plans to take Maekatha village, the main KNLA Brigade 6 base, which is about 15 kilometers from Three Pagodas Pass.

The offensive aims to gain control of lucrative concessions for logging, commercial trade and taxation.

A member of the KNU at Three Pagodas Pass said, “We know their plans and will not allow them to succeed. We will fight back.”

The New Mon State Party (NMSP) is concerned that the Burmese troops will target them in turn.

“This is first time such a large Burmese force has come near us in 14 years of ceasefire with the junta,” said Nai Chay Mon, a member of the NMSP.

The Mon refused the recent Burmese army request to transform their troops into a border guard force.

The NMSP said that the Burmese army plans to set up a new brigade at Three Pagodas Pass, which it thinks will be used against the NMSP if tensions escalate.

The NMSP said that the Burmese military will give more control over border trade to the DKBA at the Three Pagodas Pass, hoping that this will encourage fighting between the NMSP and DKBA.

“Even the Karen fight Karen, so the Mon are ready to fight anytime,” NMSP member Nai Lawi Mon said.

The NMSP and DKBA have had frequent disputes at the Three Pagodas Pass. Last year, a member of the DKBA was killed by the NMSP after a crackdown on drugs in their area.

In 1988, the KNU and NMSP clashed at the Three Pagodas Pass, causing loss of life on both sides.

Meanwhile, the DKBA has expanded the area where it will serve as a border guard force and control border trade.

The DKBA seized KNLA Brigade 7 in June, and joint DKBA and Burmese army forces intend to seize all KNLA-controlled areas along the border before the Burmese regime holds its planned general election in 2010, according to border sources.

The DKBA is the only armed ethnic group that has agreed to transform its troops into a border force after the 2010 election.

Security analysts describe the DKBA as an armed group that earns income from drug trafficking and car smuggling with the tacit acceptance of the military junta.

COMMENTS (2)

Free Man Wrote:

14/08/2009

I may not be politically correct and might give political oxygen to the generals by what I am going to say but would like to give a piece of my mind regarding democratic forces and armed ethnic forces.

I don't think what some within the democracy movment and armed resistance forces do during the entire course of the struggle manifests the spirit of a democratic federal union. We know that the regime uses the policy of divide and rule to destroy us one by one. But we still let it happen by not being united in our fight, not necessarily militarily, against the regime. We should really do soul-searching regarding this, whether we are Burmans, Kachins, Karennis, Karens, Shans, Mons, Chins, or Rakhaings.

George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:

14/08/2009

Than Shwe is leaning on the KNU to tow his line eventually to disarm the KNU like all other ethnic ceasefire groups.
Of course, the NMSP also is also no exception.
Than Shwe will primarily attend to the KNU, NMSP, Kachin and others with no ties to China or non-Chinese speaking ethnic armed groups.
He will leave the UWSA and Kokang groups - China backed and Chinese speaking - at the moment while discussions are underway.
Of course, the KNU cannot prevail over the DKBA and Burma Army combined, and with border trade incentives and others.
Likewise, Kachins and NMSP also cannot stem Than Shwe's tide.
The best bet for them is to avoid getting slaughtered and to hide.
Time is still on their side while Than Shwe's is running out at the speed of light.
They say martyrs lie in graves while heroes with victory and in glory parades.
So just stay alive and fight another day.
Let Than Shwe die for his greed while you survive for your belief.
As sons of Burma die like braves
but never live a life of slaves.
Good luck to all.