KNU denies defeat in latest Burmese military offensive

October 24, 2003

The KNU retreated on 16 October because of the ferocity of the attacks by the SPDC (State Peace and Development) Army and the DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) troops.

DVB correspondent Khine Thazin filed this report:

Khine Thazin : SPDC forces started waging an intense campaign against the KNU beginning from 5 August and because of the fierce attacks, the KNU retreated on 16 October. SPDC troops, now reported to be about 3 km away from the KNU's Seventh Brigade headquarters, however, have not been able to take over the headquarters yet.

In connection with the latest battle situation, Lt-Col Phaw Doh, commander of the KNU 101st Special Battalion under the Seventh Brigade, said the retreat did not mean that the KNU had lost its territory.

Lt-Col Phaw Doh : We retreated, but that does not mean we lost our land. Our force is weaker than theirs, so we avoided a head-on confrontation. No, we were not defeated. To be defeated in a battle means we would be left in disarray. Even though we moved our Seventh Brigade headquarters out, the enemy has not come in to take over the base. This is because we have used mines to defend ourselves. To come into our base means they will have to face danger.

That was 101st Special Battalion Commander Lt-Col Phaw Doh.

During the two-month battle between the KNU and the SPDC, more than 100 villagers from Mae Palet region were able to flee to the Burmese-Thai border last month. However, following the tough security measures imposed by the Thai authorities to close the border, refugees have not been able to come to the border.

The Karen Refugee Committee, KRC, said the more than 100 villagers who fled to the border last month had been sent to the refugee camps along the Burmese-Thai border.