Karen fighters seize Myanmar military’s base opposite Mae Hong Son

KAREN National Union (KNU) fighters seized a Myanmar junta base opposite Tha Ta Fang village in Mae Sariang district, Mae Hong Son province, after an approximately 40-minute fierce clash with this following five earlier attempts to capture it, Naewna newspaper today (Mar. 28).

At 6 a.m. this morning news reached this Thai border province that Brigade 5 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of KNU, had captured Da Gwin operation base in an attack mounted by 150 fighters armed with light and heavy weapons including 60 mortar guns, RPG rockets and grenades.

The Karen fighters had first captured the radio room and communication towers at the centre of this Myanmar military base guarded by its 430th Fast Mobility Battalion before spreading out. After fighting for around 40 minutes the Myanmar soldiers fled with the Karen force then burning their stronghold leaving it unuseable.

This assault left 10 Karen fighters slightly injured but one was in serious condition after being shot in the abdomen and he was brought to the Thai side for treatment.

Da Gwin is Myanmar military’s high-security base which the Karens had tried several times to capture.

Myanmar soldiers at this base had previously caused problems for Thai people living in this northern province having fired at their boats as they ferried goods across the border many times. On one occasion they even fired at Border Patrol police boats.

They had also fired heavy weapons, including 81mm mortars and heavy machine guns, at Tha Ta Fang village with schools and houses damaged but it was not possible complain against them

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Photos of the Myanmar military Da Gwin base being attacked by Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) fighters. Credit: Naewna