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HomeNewsKaren troops ambush Burmese army

Karen troops ambush Burmese army

Sept 15, 2009 (DVB), Four government soldiers were killed and eight were injured after an ambush by ethnic Karen troops on Sunday near to the Thai-Burma border, according to Karen officials.

The attack occurred on a highway about 15 miles outside of Payathonsu (Three Pagodas Pass) border crossing point in southern Karen state.

Troops from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), carried out ambush against government troops allegedly mobilized in the area for an offensive against the KNLA.

"This was a well planned battle and it didn't take that long before ending," said a KNLA official.

"[The government army] suffered four deaths and eight injuries, we only target military personals so we avoided fighting in areas with civilian presence."

He added that the injured government soldiers are now being treated at a hospital in Three Pagodas Pass.

Meanwhile, a resident in Payathonsu said that another ambush by the KNLA that took place on the same day near the town has left at least three government soldiers injured.

"About seven Karen fighters ambushed the government troops patrolling in the area," said the resident.

"Three [government] soldiers were hit, including a sergeant, and now they are at the Payathonsu hospital." The Payathonsu town hospital was unavailable for comments.

On 9 September, two bombs exploded at a militia checkpoint about half a kilometer outside of Payathonsu.

No casualties were reported and the government troops, backed by the proxy Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) in the region, are said to be investigating.

And another bomb exploded yesterday evening close to government buildings in Payathonsu, injuring one child. A KNU official denied involvement.

Reporting by Naw Noreen

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