Fighting continues despite cease-fire deal

BURMESE ARMY OPEN FIRE ON KAREN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

(Kao Wao: December 26, 2003)

According to sources from the Thailand Burma border, Karen New Year celebration was disrupted when the Burmese Army launched an attack during traditional festivities despite an informal truce with the military junta.

The source reported the Karen National Union was unable to decide the venue for a truce meeting amid continuous clashes at KNLA's Brigade 6, Duplaya region in Karen State. The 2nd, 3rd and 5th Brigade have been engaged in conflict. The Karen New Year Day celebration at Kawkareik Township was held with security provided by the members of KNU 6th Brigade, but was cut short when the BA launched light and heavy artillery shells.

The attack occurred on December 22 during the New Year ceremony attended by 40,000 villagers at Waw Dan Village on the bank of Aung Tharaw River about 10 miles from Kawkareik, the ceremony planned for the 23 December was cancelled.

A KNU commander said two schools combined to celebrate the Karen New Year's Eve ceremony marking the harvesting of a new crop. The KNU fighters provided security telling people to stay calm and systematically dispersed the crowd shortly after the attack; no one was injured.

The Karen New Year has become a popular festival in recent years gaining wide support from the local Karen community who enthusiastically attend the celebration every year in larger numbers.

The SPDC troops have also attacked KNU fighters in regions along the Thai-Burma border. Villages were burnt to the ground and newly harvested paddy crops were torched in the 2nd and 6th Brigade regions.

The SPDC troops, posed as army deserters, came and attacked the KNU 7th Brigade which was responsible for security during the Karen New Year Day ceremony in which KNU leader Gen Saw Bo Mya himself attended. Two SPDC soldiers were killed.

A KNU Commander Major Nerdah Mya said that the Karen fighters were put off by the unprovoked attacks but said his men were 'staying cool'.