Karen rebels release battle news

Karen rebels release battle news,
1 clash 2 casualties per day

War

The Karen National Liberation Army has on 19 August issued a statement listing its encounters between 2 June - 4 August with junta forces, as well as the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army that was formed 9 years earlier out of KNLA defectors. 

The rebels' 7 brigades and General Headquarters units had, during the 64 day period, fought 66 clashes, killing 43 enemy troops wounding 73 and capturing 2 while sustaining 4 casualties on its part, according to the report. Two villagers were wounded during one of the encounters. 

At least on 9 clashes, enemy casualties were reported unknown. On the average, the KNLA had fought at least once each day either wounding or killing two each time. They had also fought against the DKBA on 10 occasions. 

Summing up, a Thai intelligence officer said, "The report is helpful in several ways. It confirms our own reports that all is not well inside, despite outward peace along Thailand's western border. It also confirms how the Karens are proving a headache to the Burma Army. 

"However," he added, "most of the engagements are deep inside Burma and most of them are about snipings, sabotages and small ambushes. They don't make news, unlike Shan battles." 

All the same, many Thai border watchers observed, regular bulletins from the Shan State Army "South" of Col Yawdserk on its activities would be much appreciated. "Their official print organ, Freedom, comes only once in a blue moon." said one. 

The KNLA, SSA and the Karenni Army remain the main armed groups still fighting against Rangoon.