Tension between border guard, Karen

The report was downplayed by both sides, which insisted that the dispute was minor and that the situation has been resolved. 

The situation started to intensify last Tuesday between men under the command of Major Tiger from the KNU/KNLA Peace Council and troops of BGF Regiment-1022 led by Major Mok Thon. The following day, clashes reportedly occurred. However, locals from Myawady in Kayin (Karen) state and officials from both sides denied there were any clashes, apart from some tension. 

According to a local resident, Major Tiger’s troops had been working on a 60-acre piece of land to the east of the military’s Regiment-275 based in Myawady and carried out land reclamation last Tuesday. The row came after a military officer with a rank of major and five other lower level troops tried to stop the reclamation, saying the land was owned by the military, and the KNU side then fired about five shots into the air, the local said. 

The problem was resolved after the BGF’s Major Mok Thon negotiated with the KNU troops as requested by the military. 

When contacted, BGF liaison officer Major Naing Maung Zaw said there were some problems at the lower level over the land issue but they had been resolved after negotiations. No clashes took place, he insisted. Major Tiger also said the situation between the KNU/KNLA and the BGF was calm and no clashes had occurred. 

“There is no cause for attacks because I and Major Mok Thon have been like brothers. Only an argument broke out between the army and us after colonel Nyi Nyi Lwin from the military ordered my troops to leave the place where they were staying. They [the military officials] sent Major Mok Thon to us to solve the problem,” said Major Tiger.