Nay Pyi Taw March 28
Troops of KNLA’s Brigade No.5 under the command of Baw Kyaw He launched a large-scale attack on a Tatamadaw camp based near Htimuhta Village in Phapon District on March 27 morning.
KNU is an organization that signed Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on 15 October in 2015 under witness of international community and ethnic leaders. Brigade No.5 of KNU, under the specific directive of Baw Kyaw He, has been sabotaging the Tamataw's stock stations with anti-vehicle mines, carrying out destructive measures over building roads helpful to regional development, and launching heavy weapon attacks on the Tatmadaw's bases, in trying to break the NCA through various means. They have conducted eight anti-vehicle mine attacks since January 2020 to date blowing up Tatmadaw's nine working vehicles.
Besides, they sniped at the Tatmadaw troops for 25 times. In the recent days, they attacked the Tatmadaw's command bases in Hpa-an, Thaton, Taungoo, and Bawnetgyi stations with 107-mm rockets. Besides, they made an attempt to shoot the civilian targets in Mawlamyine station.
Regarding the said attacks, in the light of having an eternal peace, the Tatmadaw patiently informed officials of KNU Central Committee many times objecting the attacks and advised them of following the terms and conditions stated in NCA through Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee and National Unity and Peace Coordination Committee verbally and in writing. But, without listening to the directives of KNU Central Leading Committee and KNLA Chief of Staff, KNLA's Brigade No.5 has been carrying out destructive measures against the NCA. Therefore, the Tatmadaw advised officials of KNU Central Leading Committee for controlling their subordinate troops. KNU Central Leading Committee replied that it would observe the NCA saying that KNU was not involved in Brigade No.5's actions. They said that members of Brigade No.
5 under the command of Baw Kyaw He, with the rank of deputy chief of staff of KNLA, had been disturbing NCA and harming the peace without obeying their orders.
Therefore, the Tatmadaw could take necessary actions against Baw Kyaw He and Brigade No.5, replied KNU Central Leading Committe.
The KNU and local people want peace and go ahead with NCA, but local people are being afraid of Baw Kyaw He who is a narrow-minded bigot and a warmonger. The Brigade No.5 has already crossed the line prescribed in NCA in trying to attack the Tatmadaw camps on security duty.
As the acts have reached far beyond the Tatmadaw’s limit of patience, beginning 27 March, it would take necessary actions against KNLA's Brigade No.5.