Consolidated 1997 Battle News Repor

[padauk@xxxxxxxxxx]

Consolidated 1997 Battle News Report by KNLA General Headquarters 
                                                   February 13, 1998


¨ There had been clashes constantly between the KNLA troops and the
SLORC/SPDC troops in the whole year beginning from January 1 to December
31, 1997.  Especially, starting from the time when the SLORC (currently the
SPDC) launched a major military offensive, after abrogation of the dialogue
process unilaterally by it, there had been more numerous and intense clashes.

¨ The KNLA troops, disregarding all difficulties and hardships, have
valiantly and actively fought against the enemy.  They are troops of the
1st Brigade in Thaton district,  the 2nd Brigade in Toungoo and Pyinmana
districts,  the 3rd Brigade in Nyaunglebin district, the 4th Brigade in
Tavoy-Mergui district, the 5th Brigade in Papun district, the 6th Brigade
in Kawkareik district,  the 7th Brigade in Pa-an district, and the mobile
battalions of the headquarters, the 101st Battalion, 103rd Battalion and
the Special Commando Battalion. 

¨ In the whole year of 1997, in the brigade areas mentioned above, there
had been 1,644 major and minor clashes.  According to still incomplete
statistics, 901 enemy troops were killed and 1,530 wounded.  There were 53
dead and 36 wounded on the KNLA side.  The KNLA troops captured 86 pieces
of weapons, including one 82 mm mortar, and a large quantity of all kinds
of ammunition and military equipment. In the clashes, the KNLA troops
destroyed 2 bulldozers and a number of military trucks.

¨ The KNLA managed to initiate numerous small-scale engagements,
constantly, against the enemy in 1997, by effectively applying the
guerrilla warfare principles of dispersion, concentration, mobility and
surprise to gain a situation for operating on the interior line,
tactically, while having to operate on the exterior line strategically.
The KNLA had successfully managed to achieve economy with regard to
casualty and the use of ammunition, while inflicting maximum casualty and
losses on the enemy. 

¨ In resisting the enemy's 1997 offensive, the KNLA had joined hands with
troops of the All-Burma Muslim Union (ABMU), All-Burma Students Democratic
Front (ABSDF), People's Liberation Front (PLF), Karenni National
Progressive Party (KNPP), Mergui-Tavoy United Front and People's Democratic
Force (PDF) and managed to improve cooperation with those forces.

¨ In conclusion, we, the KNLA,  reaffirm that we do not want the civil war
and demand for the resolution of the political problems justly by political
means, and that if the SPDC continues its  genocidal war against the Karen
people, as it is now,   we will continue to resist effectively in self
defense, hand in hand with the alliance forces.

*********

//END//