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BKK Post, April 9, 1998. BORDER



April 9, 1998. BORDER

Top Karen defects to renegades
Logging chief offered 'important position' 
Supamart Kasem 
Tak

An estimated 38 guerrillas and about 200 relatives have defected from 
the Karen National Union to the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. This was 
confirmed by a senior KNU official last night.

The group went over to the DKBA on Monday after Pado Aung San, its 
leader and the KNU's former forestry minister, accepted the offer of an 
important position, a source said.

Pado Aung San is the first cousin of Phra U Thu Zana, head of the 
Democratic Karen Buddhist Organisation, who is lives at Myang Gyi Ngu 
Temple on the Salween River. It is also known as the Three Junction 
Pagoda by the Burmese. The Pado, formerly a Buddhist, later became an 
Adventist.

The group leader is expected to oversee logging operations and protect 
DKBA interests in the border timber trade, the source said.

After talks with DKBA officials at a village in Papun district, Karen 
state, on Monday, Pado Aung San led his group and their families to the 
temple.

Pado Aung San and his followers crossed the border into Ban Mae Wei in 
Tha Song Yang district, Tak, in 1995, after his stronghold near KNU 
headquarters in Manerplaw was seized by Burmese and DKBA forces.

A source close to Gen Bo Mya, the KNU president, said Pado Aung San had 
been a close aide of the KNU leader and trusted by the Karen leadership. 
He had helped build a strong army and as forestry minister was 
responsible for securing income.

It was possible the defection was linked to allegations of corruption 
against him by other KNU members following a drop in income.

Pado Aung San had attributed the drop to the loss of vast areas to 
Rangoon and the DKBA, they said. Furthermore, he was said to have been 
concerned about renegade attacks on KNU leaders.

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