January 9 (NMG): Three soldiers who were detained by Thai authority after fleeing from Burmese army to join with the KNPP (Karenni National Progressive Party) might be facing threat to their lives if they were handed over to Burma, the secretary of KNPP Remin Htoo said.

Due to disparities between the officers and the private soldiers along with poor basic supplies, disgruntled Burmese soldiers from LIB 428 stationing at Border Post No 13 in Thai-Burma border defected to Thai-Burma border. In the worst scenario when the officers of Burmese army accused them of selling ammunitions to one of cease-fire group, KNPLF (Kayah Nationalities People’s Liberation Front), discontent soldiers fled away from Burmese army on 2nd January and were arrested by Thai authorities, the secretary of KNPP said.

He also revealed that the officers from military government usually sell out the ammunitions to cease-fire groups and report their higher ranks that these weapons were used in the battlefields. It has been long that there is lack of food supplies in government forces at the border-post No. 13, he added.

“In 1995, the KNPP, was under cease-fire agreement with military government. When we came back to this camp, they (Burmese troops at the border post) welcome us with tea. On that day, one Burmese officer asked me whether the talks between the government and the KNPP were going well or not and confessed me that only when the talks were okay, the situation will be safe for us, because this is no men-land and it is also difficult to find food in this region,” the secretary of KNPP Remin Htoo said.

The border post No. 13 situated at the middle of 200 kilometer long Thai-Burma border on Southwest of Mae Hong Son in northern Thailand.

The defectors, Zaw Zaw Aung (S. 278 998), Private Maung Kaung and Private Lin Lin (S. 272 279) who fled from Burma with their MAI automatic machine-guns are currently under detention of Thai authorities.