Junta troops call off Karen offensive

Junta troops call off Karen offensive

War

Rangoon has since yesterday (20 October) suspended its two and a half month long operations against the Karen rebels and are withdrawing its troops well beyond firing range, according to Karen resistance spokesman. 

“They have retreated without capturing their coveted objective, the 7th Brigade headquarters,” said Saw Sarky. “Throughout the offensive, the enemy was able to breach only our first line of defense at Lay Day. 

"Even if our brigade command post were captured, it would not have been more than a fruitless exercise as our troops had already set up several alternative bases to operate from.” 

Altogether, Rangoon had employed 9 battalions plus two heavy weapons units under Hmawbi-based Military Operations Command #4 and elements from pro-Rangoon Democratic Karen Buddhist Army’s 999th Brigade as well as 907th Independent Battalion as auxiliaries. Burmese casualities, 1 August-19 October, were 104 killed and 213 wounded. Among those killed was Lt-Col Aye Kyaw, Commander of Light Infantry Battalion 701, who was seriously wounded on 30 September. 

On the Karen National Liberation Army’s side, the losses were “negligible”, only 9 wounded but 3 of them in serious conditions. The figures, however, could not be independently confirmed. 

The 7th Brigade, considered the strongest unit in the KNLA, was previously commanded by Gen Bo Mya.