Day: September 8, 2011

Chief Minister complains as Mon State Police fail to investigate bomb blasts

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September 7th, 2011

Hong Dein, IMNA – Mon State Chief Minister U Ohm Myint has complained to the Chief of Mon State Police that local police have failed to investigate the bomb blast that occurred at the Thanbyuzayat Township Police Station, about 40 miles from Moulmein, the capital of Mon State.

U Ohm Myint spoke with the Chief of State Police during his visits to the Township Police Station and the Township General Administration Department at Thanbyuzayat on 3 September.

The Chief of Police reportedly told U Ohm Myint that the blast was the work of Nai Than Lwin, a former member of the New Mon State Party, and a Karen group.

“You shouldn’t let that group get away. The police should follow them until they catch them, and the police should take full responsibility for it,” the Mon State Chief Minister opined.

Currently, residents of Thanbyuzayat say that the police are taking responsibility for security inside the town, as well as along the major roads highways.

Two men on a motorbike shot an M-40 into the police station in the centre of Thanbyuzayat on 29 August, confirmed the town police station.

A source close to Sa Ya Pha (Military Affairs Security, MAS) said that a bomb was detonated near the home of the Administrator of Thanbyuzayat Township General Administration Department on 29 June 29, resulting in destroyed wall near the house.

Similarly, another bomb went off near the police station on the evening of 7 May 2010.

According to the journal Inside Myanmar, the police are preparing to take full security in the town.

Nearly 30 Burmese soldiers killed in six days in Kachin State

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kia soldier 0908KIA soldiers take position near Laiza Headquarters, eastern Kachin State.

Nearly 30 Burmese government soldiers were killed during six days of fighting with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State, according to KIA officers.

 
The death toll was counted from Sept. 1 to 6, a KIA officer in 3rd Brigade, Manmaw (Bhamo) District, told the Kachin News Group.

The skirmishes between government troops and the KIA   happened mainly n the region east of the Irrawaddy River, in N’Mawk Township, Dawhpumyang sub-township, Waingmaw Township.

There were no KIA casualties, KIA officers said.

The ceasefire negotiation between the two delegates has been stopped since the new Burmese government led by Ex-general Thein Sein publicly denounced the KIA and its political wing Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) as “insurgent or terrorist” at its first press conference in Naypyitaw on August 12.

DKBA to Accelerate Military Tactics

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The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), an ethnic Karen armed militia, has reorganized its military strategy to speed up future activities, said DKBA sources.

“We held a planning meeting to organize our troops for more effective military tactics. We established two military groups, named Klo Htoo Wah and Klo Htoo Lah—one in the south and one in the north of our area,” said Maj San Aung of the DKBA.

Col Kyaw Thet is assigned to lead the Klo Htoo Wah tactical group and Col Kyaw Bi Koh is assigned to lead Klo Htoo Lah, said San Aung. The DKBA also named Klo Htoo Baw as their headquarters in southern Karen State.

Brig-Gen Saw Lah Pwe will be the commander of the entire DKBA, according to San Aung. On Nov. 8, one day after Burma’s election, Saw Lah Pwe led DKBA Brigade 5 in resisting attacks by government troops after Brigade 5 briefly took control of some government buildings in Myawaddy.

The DKBA intends to cooperate on military matters with the Karen National Union (KNU) and it’s military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), another ethnic armed group that the DKBA broke away from in 1995. At the time, the DKBA signed a ceasefire agreement with the government, but the KNU/KNLA did not.

Htee Moo, a Karen social worker who is close to the DKBA, said that the DKBA top commanders reorganized their military tactics because more troops from the government’s Karen Border Guard Force have deserted to join the DKBA.

“The DKBA will increase fighting alongside its mother organization, the KNU, against the Burmese government troops,” said Htee Moo.

The DKBA is estimated to have more than 1,000 fighters and the KNLA is estimated to have about 4,000 troops.

Currently, fighting occurs almost every day in Karen State, said Htee Moo. Karen observers said that fighting in Karen State between government troops and Karen rebel groups will intensify in the future.

The DKBA earlier changed its military tactics to target urban areas where government offices and buildings are located, rather than fighting in the jungle. The Irrawaddy

Mongla satisfied with Kengtung meet

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THURSDAY, 08 SEPTEMBER 2011 19:06 HSENG KHIO FAH

National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) aka Mongla group says the meeting held between its delegates and the government’s representatives yesterday is promising, according to sources from the group.

The two sides met in the capital of Shan State East, Kengtung, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. following Naypyitaw’s 28 August invitation letter to Mongla for peace talks, said a source close to Mongla.Mongla sent over 10 members led by Vice Chairman Hsan Per and its general secretary Sao Hsengla while the Burmese side was led by Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) general secretary U Aung Thaung and U Thein Zaw, Chairman of the Lower House National Races and Internal Peacekeeping Committee

A new 5 point proposal was presented by the government representatives. They are:

  • No hostilities between the two sides
  • To reopen liaison offices on both side
  • To maintain Mongla’s autonomous status
  • To inform each other in advance if one side is entering the other side’s territory carrying arms
  • To form a joint liaison committee as soon as possible

“No response has been given to them [the government] yet as we still have to discuss among us,” a source said. “Nevertheless, U Thein zaw suggested forming a joint liaison committee as soon as possible to fulfill each other’s need.”

Mongla’s counter proposal to the government was for the Burma Army to pull out from its controlled area. “Like us, U Thein Zaw said he also has to inform Naypyitaw about our request,” said an officer from the group. “However, their proposal looks acceptable this time. So we think the prospects are good.”

Mongla is reportedly holding a central committee meeting today to consider the 5 point proposal.

Mongla’s ally the United Wa State Army (UWSA) that met the same delegation from the government on the previous day at the same location, reportedly received a similar proposal.

These are the first formal meetings between Naypyitaw and the Wa-Mongla alliance since April 2010.

Junta Peace Talk Updates 8 September

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7 September 2011
A United Wa State Army (UWSA) delegation, in response to Naypyitaw’s 28 August letter inviting it for peace talks, visited Kengtung, Shan State East capital, yesterday. The 3 men delegation made up of Bao Youliang, Zhao Guo-ang and Li Julie aka U Aung Myint met U Aung Thaung and U Thein Zaw today. No further details have been disclosed. (SHAN)

8 September 2011
The meeting between Naypyitaw negotiators with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) delegation in Kengtung on 7 September was followed yesterday by another with the Wa’s closest ally and neighbor, Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA). Details yet to be disclosed. (SHAN)