NCUB PRESS RELEASE NO 5

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		NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE UNION OF BURMA
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			PRESS RELEASE NO [5]

		THE SLORC OFFENSIVE IN KNU BRIGADE 4 AREA
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							Date: February 23, 1997

SLORC troops have been launching their offensive against KNU Brigade 4 area using a three-pronged military attack from two positions since February 10th, 1997.

>From the north of Brigade 4 area, SLORC Battalion Nos. 25, 431, 104, 224 and 17, which are organised under Operational Command No.1, based in Tavoy township.  These battalions arrived at a location in between Sinpyudaing and Ai Waing villages, which is si
tuated on the Tenasserim river, through Taung Thone Lone and Myitta villages, despite KNLA guerrilla resistance.

>From the southern direction, battalions from Light Infantry Division No. 66, under Operational Command  No. 2, sent from Nan Thila mine, marched to the east . Another SLORC troops with 200 army-men from Infantry Battalion 17 and 101 arrived at Ka Wutt Hta
 and captured porters from there. The whole village population now fled. 

Today, there have been a series of heavy clashes between Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) troops and SLORC troops.  Recent reports from the area state that SLORC troops are attempting to proceed to Htee-Kee (aka Minthamee ) area, Headquarters of the 
KNU 4th Brigade.

SLORC has forcibly recruited civilians, along the roads and in villages between Tavoy and Palaw townships, as porters for the front-line area to carry military supplies, and as human mine-sweepers. SLORC have forced these porters to walk in front of the t
roops, in order to make it difficult for KNLA troops to launch guerrilla attacks on the SLORC columns, as the KNLA soldiers do not want to injure these civilians.  More than 1,000 civilians were recruited from Tavoy township to and were ordered to perform
 forced labour doing road construction, on the roads leading to Htee-Kee (Minthamee).  Five bull-dozers are also being utilised to push this road through.  On another road leading to this area, another five bulldozers are being used near Nan Thila village
, along with over 1000 forced labourers, to complete a road into the KNU 4th Brigade HQ area.  Due to the recent massive recruitment of porters and forced labourers from Tenasserim Division and Mon State, many villagers have become internally displaced an
d are trying to flee to the Thai border, in order to avoid continual recruitment as porters and forced labourers, and the accompanying ill-treatment and human rights abuses perpetrated by the SLORC.

The following are the details of the clashes between SLORC and KNLA troops near Taung Thone Lon, Myitta and Ban Chaung villages in KNU 4th Brigade area, before February the 22nd, 1997:

(1) On February 8, 1997, approximately 2000 SLORC troops attacked Battalion 10 of KNLA Brigade 4. There was a small clash and no casualties were reported on either side.

(2) On February 8, 1997, KNLA troops attacked SLORC troops at Myitta(Mu Hta) village. There have been no casualties reported on either side.

(3) On February 9, 1997, there was a clash between KNLA and SLORC troops at Maw Pel Kho(Mae Plu Khlo) village. Fighting lasted for the whole days and nine SLORC soldiers including a Major were killed and 15 seriously wounded. No casualties from KNU side.

(4) On February 10, 1997 KNLA troops launch guerrilla attacked against the SLORC troops at Ka Lel Kee (Kleh Gyu) village. One SLORC killed and two injured.

(5) On February 11, 1997, KNLA troops ambushed SLORC troops at Taung Thone Lone village. No casualties have been confirmed yet. On the same day there was a clash lasting three hours, between SLORC and KNLA troops following this ambush, when SLORC troops e
ntered Maw Ko Ka Nel Pho Phel (Pho Se camp near Maw Lo Kheh) village. The SLORC fired 20 rounds of heavy artillery shells at KNLA troops, but no causalities have been confirmed.

(6) At 7:30 AM, on February 13, 1997, KNLA troops ambushed SLORC troops at Pho Lay (Yo Lay) and Mae Maw Kay Klaw villages.  The clash lasted the whole day.  The casualty report stated that 18 soldiers were injured, and some killed.  On the same day three 
SLORC soldiers fled the fighting along with seven porters.  There was a series of clashes reported as SLORC troops pursued the run-away soldiers and porters.  Three SLORC soldiers who chased the fleeing soldiers and porters were killed. The run-away soldi
ers and porters were finally captured by SLORC troops and were arbitrarily executed.   

(7) At 6:15 AM on February 15, 1997, KNLA troops attacked SLORC troops who were being enplaned at Ai Waing (Kwee Waw Wah) village but no casualties have been reported yet. At 11:15 AM on the same day there was a another clash between the troops at this vi
llage. 20 SLORC soldiers, including a Captain were reported to have been killed and wounded. One KNLA soldier sacrificed and 5 were injured in this battle.

(8) On February 16, 1997 KNLA troops attacked SLORC troops at Nyar Plur Thu village and Ai Waing (Kwee Waw Wah) villages, but no casualties have been reported yet.

(9) On February 17, 1997, KNLA troops captured a SLORC boat carrying supplies and food, and one SLORC soldier.  This soldier was killed as he attempted to fire at the Karen troops and flee.  10 rice sacks, some sugar sacks and condensed milk were confisca
ted by KNLA troops.  On the same day KNLA troops attacked SLORC troops at Maw Ma Pru mountain, but no casualties were reported.

(10) At 9:00 AM, on February 18, 1997, there was a heavy clash between KNLA troops and SLORC troops at Maw Ma Pru mountain.  The fighting listed for the whole day. Over 20 SLORC soldiers were wounded or killed.  On the same day KNLA troops captured 10 SLO
RC boats carrying supplies and food for the SLORC troops. At the same time KNLA troops attacked the SLORC troops at Ta Nah P'Gaw Htah village and there were 20 SLORC soldiers wounded or killed.

(11) On February 19, there was a  clash between KNLA and SLORC troops at Ka Htaw Nee area. More than 30 SLORC soldiers were wounded or killed in the incident. 

Sporadic fighting is still going on in different parts of KNU 4th Brigade area between KNLA and SLORC troops.  The NCUB Information Department will continue to report on the situation in the area as details become available.


Information Committee
NCUB

For further information please contact 055 - 561 040.