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Situation Update, ABSDF








Situation Update
3 July 1995


Since 26 June, as a preparation for the upcoming offensive, SLORC troops in 
Loikaw have severed the reins attached to horse-carts, normally used for the 
purpose of public transportation, confiscated 3 horses and summoned a like 
number of people from each of the nearby villages for corvee service and 
collected 300 Kyats of porter fees from each household. All this was done 
under the direct orders of the Loikaw-based Military Strategic Command.

On 30 June a military column composed of 6 battalions -- LIB 423 and LIB 426 
under Regional Strategic Command, and another 4 battalions under Eastern 
Command -- left Shadaw Town, crossed the Salween River and proceeded south 
along the Tartamaw-Mae Sa Te route on the eastern bank of the river to area 
controlled by the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).  According to 
eye-witnesses, about 1,500 porters, including women and children, from 
Loikaw, Shadaw, Demoso and Pruso Townships, were seen being forced to march 
with this military column.  Along the way, SLORC troops were intercepted by 
Karenni Army.  

On the Mae Sa Te front, on the eastern bank of Salween River west of Pan Yun 
(Camp 1) and Do Mo Sheh (Camp 2), both filled with Karenni refugees, 
fighting has been going on between the Karenni Army and the SLORC troops 
which had marched from Tartamaw.  

Meanwhile on the Mae Yu front, 9 km from Border Post 9, intense fighting is 
still going on between the Karenni Army and the advancing SLORC troops who 
want to control the outpost since it is an important route for border trade 
with Thailand.  SLORC troops have been bombarding Mae Yu with heavy artillery.

Presumably, SLORC troops want to control Pan Yun, Nan Awn, Naung Lon, Border 
Post 9, Dawtakhae and Htarnakhwe (Sub-station) outposts of KNPP.

On 30 June, SLORC troops and a number of Karenni troops under its 1st 
Battalion exchanged fire at another front, Kauk Kauk, a few kilometres west 
of Border Post 12, controlled by KNPP. The Karenni Army is still able to 
keep the SLORC troops at bay.

At the southern-most front, SLORC troops have advanced up the Mae Su Rin 
River and are about to take Border Post 11.

Casualties from both sides unknown.

As of July 2, this intense fighting affected at least 3,000 civilians, who 
have been now dislocated. About 1,500 Karen and Karenni refugees at Camp 3 
-- located between Nan Soi village and the Burmese border -- began to 
evacuate to a Padaung (Longnecked) village, about 3 km farther inside 
Thailand. The newly set-up headquarters of ABSDF is also near Camp 3.

Another 1,500 refugees from Do Mo Sheh Camp inside Burma have moved to Pan 
Yun Camp, which sits directly on the border.

In line with the ceasefire agreement that was reached 3 months ago, a 
delegation led by Brig Aung Myat, Vice-Chief of Staff of the Karenni Army 
and Chairman of Border Area Development in Karenni State, left for Loikaw on 
6 June to discuss with SLORC about development programmes.  This delegation 
met with Brig Maung Kyi, Commander of Regional Strategic Command, and was 
told that the War Office in Rangoon ordered to control strategic hill-top 
outposts in Karenni State, aiming at:

(1) Preventing the smuggling of timbers along the Thai-Burmese border; and
(2) Controlling supposed instability along the border after the emergence of 
a newly-elected Government in Thailand. 

After responding that KNPP could by no means agree with these reasons -- 
reasons which are in direct contradiction to the ceasefire agreement -- the 
delegation returned to their headquarters on 25 June. 




Foreign Affairs Department
Central Committee
ABSDF