5 Burmese soldiers killed in clash with KNU and desertions continue

DVB ( 10 November 2003 )

Burmese troops suffered five casualties in a recent clash with the KNU (Karen National Union) fighters in the Three Pagodas region near the Thai border.

Border sources told DVB that a unit from the KNU 6th Brigade planted mines and ambushed an army column near Chaungzon Village on 6 November.

In another report, three soldiers from LIB No 104, stationed at a border post in Palaw Township opposite Ratchaburi Province fled to Thailand and they are still being detained by the Thai border police.

Privates Aung Tun, Kyaw Min Oo and Po Zaw are child soldiers forcibly recruited at a young age. The deserters are likely to be sent back to Burma by the Thai authorities despite the danger of being tortured and killed by their officers.

The morale of Burmese soldiers is said to be very low and they have been deserting and rebelling against their officers regularly.