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This photo was taken by a KHRG staff member on April 7th 2015. This photo shows a letter from the Unity Committee for Karen Armed Groups (UCKAG) which explains the commission of an investigation on the fighting between the BGF and KNLA on February 27th 2015. UCKAG was founded following the KNU’s 15th Congress in late 2012, and held its first meeting shortly after in May 2013. It is a committee of seven members created with the aim to unite all Karen armed groups and includes members from the KNU, DKBA, and the BGF, among others. The commission leaders held a meeting on April 3rd 2015 with the commanders from both sides. Both BGF #1022’s Battalion Commander Maung Thon and Brigade #6 (Dooplaya) KNLA’s Headquarter Special Commander Captain Hla Min agreed on the investigation’s results, which found both sides culpable for the conflict. [Photo: KHRG]
On March 5th 2015, a KHRG staff member met with a female A--- villager and documented the recent clashes between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and a Border Guard Force (BGF)[2] which occurred on February 28th 2015 in between Meh Htaw Th’Lay and Ta Bluh Hkoh Hkee villages, Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District.
According to the A--- villager, BGF Battalion #1022 extended more camps in KNLA controlled areas in Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District, after the preliminary ceasefire[3] was signed between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burma/Myanmar government in January 2012.
She added, since the ceasefire was signed, the Tatamdaw’s BGF Battalion #1022, led by Battalion Commander Maung Thon, extended two small camps nearby Myawaddy Town, controlled by the commander of Brigade #6’s (Dooplaya District) KNLA Headquarters Special Command Captain La Min.
On January 30th 2015, BGF Battalion #1022 built a new camp but was ordered by Special Command Captain La Min to withdraw and KNLA soldiers burnt down the camp after the BGF left. On February 27th 2015, a villager reported to Special Command Captain La Min that the BGF had returned and was rebuilding their camp. Afterwards, Special Command Captain La Min ordered his soldiers to go and tell the BGF to withdraw. On that day, at around 6 pm, a group of KNLA soldiers went to the BGF camp to tell them to withdraw. On their way, before they could reach the BGF camp, they were ambushed by BGF soldiers. One KNLA soldier was shot and killed at the scene, another one was injured by the BGF soldiers and one of the BGF soldiers was injured in return.
A KHRG community member from Kawkareik Township also reported that on February 27th 2015, in the early morning around 5 am, fighting occurred between BGF and Tatmadaw battalions from Kyaikdon Town and former DKBA[4] Commander Bo San Aung’s group[5] in B--- section, in C--- village, Kawkareik Township. The Tatmadaw and BGF captured one soldier of Bo San Aung’s group, who is 18 years old, in possession of one rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and five regular grenades. Villagers who witnessed the Tatmadaw and BGF arrest him said, “They captured that soldier and he was beaten by the Tatmadaw and BGF before they killed him.” According to the KHRG community member, the BGF ordered C--- villagers to bury the dead soldier’s body. The villagers also reported that a bullet hit a shop nearby the fighting area but no villagers were injured and they could not identify which group fired it.
On the same day at around 11 am, the fighting started again in D--- section, C--- village. According to the KHRG community member who went to collect the information in the area, two BGF soldiers and one Tatmadaw soldier were killed during the fighting.
The next day on February 28th 2015, at around 5 am, the fighting occurred again in the same D--- section, C--- village. During the fighting, the BGF and Tatmadaw shelled over 10 mortars into E--- village where Bo San Aung and his soldiers were located. Half of the mortars were found unexploded. Bo San Aung’s group also shelled back three mortars at the Tatmadaw and BGF in D--- section, C--- village, where villagers said two exploded and one did not. According to the KHRG community member, none of the villagers were injured during the attack because the incident occurred far enough away from villagers' houses to prevent any injuries.
Mg Aye Lwin – BGF (shot in the left side of the head)
Eh Doo – BGF Platoon Commander (shot in the neck)
Myint Win – Tatmadaw Platoon Second in Command
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The above photos were taken by a KHRG researcher in C--- village, Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District on March 2nd 2015. These photos show the mortars which did not explode during the clash between the BGF and Tatmadaw battalions from Kyaikdon Town and former DKBA Commander Bo San Aung’s group. The top-left photo shows the unexploded mortar at the scene that was fired by the DKBA. The top-right shows the unexploded mortar that was fired by Tatmadaw soldiers. The bottom-left photo depicts both mortars after they were collected by the village leaders. The bottom-right photo shows the damage to a villager’s shop door after being hit by bullets. The shop owner said that the bullets almost hit him and his family members. The owner closed down the shop because they were afraid of the fighting, however they re-opened two days later. The shop owner did not know which armed actor’s bullets hit his shop door. The villagers in the area report being scared of what will happen in the future. [Photos: KHRG]
On March 5th 2015, a KHRG staff member met with a female A--- villager and documented the recent clashes between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and a Border Guard Force (BGF)[2] which occurred on February 28th 2015 in between Meh Htaw Th’Lay and Ta Bluh Hkoh Hkee villages, Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District.
According to the A--- villager, BGF Battalion #1022 extended more camps in KNLA controlled areas in Kawkareik Township, Dooplaya District, after the preliminary ceasefire[3] was signed between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burma/Myanmar government in January 2012.
She added, since the ceasefire was signed, the Tatamdaw’s BGF Battalion #1022, led by Battalion Commander Maung Thon, extended two small camps nearby Myawaddy Town, controlled by the commander of Brigade #6’s (Dooplaya District) KNLA Headquarters Special Command Captain La Min.
On January 30th 2015, BGF Battalion #1022 built a new camp but was ordered by Special Command Captain La Min to withdraw and KNLA soldiers burnt down the camp after the BGF left. On February 27th 2015, a villager reported to Special Command Captain La Min that the BGF had returned and was rebuilding their camp. Afterwards, Special Command Captain La Min ordered his soldiers to go and tell the BGF to withdraw. On that day, at around 6 pm, a group of KNLA soldiers went to the BGF camp to tell them to withdraw. On their way, before they could reach the BGF camp, they were ambushed by BGF soldiers. One KNLA soldier was shot and killed at the scene, another one was injured by the BGF soldiers and one of the BGF soldiers was injured in return.
A KHRG community member from Kawkareik Township also reported that on February 27th 2015, in the early morning around 5 am, fighting occurred between BGF and Tatmadaw battalions from Kyaikdon Town and former DKBA[4] Commander Bo San Aung’s group[5] in B--- section, in C--- village, Kawkareik Township. The Tatmadaw and BGF captured one soldier of Bo San Aung’s group, who is 18 years old, in possession of one rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and five regular grenades. Villagers who witnessed the Tatmadaw and BGF arrest him said, “They captured that soldier and he was beaten by the Tatmadaw and BGF before they killed him.” According to the KHRG community member, the BGF ordered C--- villagers to bury the dead soldier’s body. The villagers also reported that a bullet hit a shop nearby the fighting area but no villagers were injured and they could not identify which group fired it.
On the same day at around 11 am, the fighting started again in D--- section, C--- village. According to the KHRG community member who went to collect the information in the area, two BGF soldiers and one Tatmadaw soldier were killed during the fighting.
The next day on February 28th 2015, at around 5 am, the fighting occurred again in the same D--- section, C--- village. During the fighting, the BGF and Tatmadaw shelled over 10 mortars into E--- village where Bo San Aung and his soldiers were located. Half of the mortars were found unexploded. Bo San Aung’s group also shelled back three mortars at the Tatmadaw and BGF in D--- section, C--- village, where villagers said two exploded and one did not. According to the KHRG community member, none of the villagers were injured during the attack because the incident occurred far enough away from villagers' houses to prevent any injuries.
Mg Aye Lwin – BGF (shot in the left side of the head)
Eh Doo – BGF Platoon Commander (shot in the neck)
Myint Win – Tatmadaw Platoon Second in Command