2 NMSP soldiers killed and 3 arrested in clash with Burmese military

July 19, 2013

HURFOM: Reports have emerged of a clash between Burmese military and New Mon State Party (NMSP) forces in Tenasserim Division, killing 2 members of the Mon armed group and a Burmese military sergeant. With the Burmese military alleged to have initiated the attack, the move breaks a ceasefire between the two groups that, aside from a period of renegotiation from 2010 to 2012, has spanned the last 18 years.

The fighting broke out in Thu Ma Kha Lan village, located in the east of Tenasserim Division’s Boatpyin Township, close to the Thai-Burma border.

A 43-year-old local villager who witnessed the incident told HURFOM, “On 9 July, 30 soldiers from the LIB [Light Infantry Battalion] No. 597 came and based themselves in Thu Ma Kha Lan village. Then, on the morning of 16 July, the military troop started to attack the Mon group…The military troop confiscated 2 guns and other arms [from NMSP forces] and 2 Mon soldiers were killed.”

Whilst the government media has reported on the attack as an accident, witnesses allege it to have been provoked by members of the Burmese military tearing down and burning a Mon national flag.

“We have photos of the [Burmese] military troops cutting down the Mon flag and burning it”, said local resident Nai Lagon Aein, This villager also listed further grievances against the Burmese battalion, who he claimed had harvested corn from local plantations without the owners’ permission.

The NMSP soldiers killed in the attack have been named as Nai Shein, 40, and Nai Chan Mon, 20. Further to these casualties, in the aftermath of the clash 3 NMSP soldiers were arrested and are still being held in an unknown location.

NMSP Captain Tamoi Chan said, “The military arrested a Mon soldier called Nai Karak Mon, 29, when he took his wife back home. Similarly, another Mon soldier, Nai Win Taung, 35, was arrested when he went hunting in the forest and ran into the troop. 3 soldiers are still being held and we do not have any information on their location.”

With Infantry Battalion (IB) No.224, IB No. 288, LIB No. 580, and LIB No. 597 still present in the area many Tha Mu Kha Lan villagers have fled their homes, fearing further outbreaks of violence.

The 16 July clash between NMSP and Burmese military forces is the latest reminder that the situation for ethnic groups nationwide is far from stable. Since 2011 the Burmese military have repeatedly broken ceasefire arrangements with ethnic groups, with attacks in Kachin and Shan states. According one senior political leader, “Although the government has developed ceasefires with ethnic groups, it does not have the power to control the [Burmese] military troops. Ethnic armed groups should always be on the alert.”

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News