KNU not to reopen Three Pagoda Pass-Thanphyuzayart highway

Thu 29 Nov 2007
Joi Htaw, IMNA

The Karen National Union in a letter to the Three Pagoda Pass Township Peace and Development Council authorities has announced that it is not going to work in tandem with the Burmese military authorities to reopen the highway from the Thai-Burma border town of Three Pagoda Pass to Thanpyuzayart, Mon State.

The letter was sent not only to TPP authorities, but also to traders and businessmen who operate from across its gate in Kyungyaung village. The officer at the check point gave the letter to them.

The letter has the seal of the KNU and said that they would not take any responsibility for those passing through the Three Pagoda Pass to Thanpyuzayart road and would shoot whoever uses the vehicular route.

There are three routes, Three Pagoda Pass to Kyainnseikyi Township, Karen State, TPP to Ye Township, and TPP to Thanphyuzayart Township, Mon State.

KNU has allowed businessmen and traders the use of two roads but not TPP to Thanphyuzayart route because there are thousands of Burma Army troops using the road. They are the enemy and KNU have said they will shoot at any car, boat or people they see on this route, a person who read the letter said.

He added that KNU will take off its gate after its water trip at the end of this month and will have a meeting on December 4 to let car owners and the traders know which route they will be allowed to use.

KNU has prohibited use of the vehicular route fromT PP to Thanpyuzayart because the regime armed forces marched to their area of influence to establish four more army bases in Kyainnseikyi and Three Pagoda Pass Townships.

A car owner who used to drive from the Thai-Burma border town to Thanpyuzayart said that this will affect the local people badly because the ban and restriction is not only from KNU but also from the Burma Army's side.

Burma Army troops move into Karen state, one killed in clash

Thu 27 Dec 2007
Joi Htaw, IMNA

Not less than 2,000 Burma Army troops marched to Karen State Kyainnseikyi Township and Three Pagoda Pass (TPP) areas where the Karen Nation Union has influence. A gun battle took place between the two sides at 4 pm in Thet-phyu-chung village in Kyainnseikyi Township yesterday killing one Burmese soldier and injuring two, sources from a cease-fire group in TPP said

IMNA tried to contact a KNU leader to confirm the news but his telephone was not available.

The Burma Army troops are from Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 28, IB 403, Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 338, 339, 36 and 403, 405 and 406 which are under Military Operation Management Command No. 8.

LIB No. 338, 339, IB No. 28 are active in Kyaik-Dein area, and 403, 405, 406 are in Pha-yar-ngou-tou area in Kyainnseikyi Township.

IB No. 28 is operating in Myaing Thayar village, Three Pagoda Pass Township.

There are already four battalions in Kyainnseikyi Township and Three Pagoda Pass Township and now troops are flocking to these territories because the junta wants the army in four more places in Mon and Karen ethnic areas.

A motorcycle trader said he met the soldiers on his way to Three Pagoda Pass border town and heard from a military officer that there were about 85 military trucks transporting the soldier and rations.

The Burma Army's offensive in Karen Nation Union territory is to clear the opposition army group because in this area a railway project is coming up in 2008 from Three Pagoda Pass to Thanphyuzayart, according to source close to military in Three Pagoda Pass.

More over, the military regime plans to station an artillery battalion in Chung-zone village area, according to sources close to authorities in TPP.