Jul 1, 2008 (DVB), Troops from Burma's military regime and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army attacked a camp controlled by the Karen National Union on Monday morning, leaving one KNU soldier dead and another captured.
Major Saw Hla Ngwe, head of the KNU's Information Department, told DVB that Wal Lay Khee, an old camp under the KNU's Battalion 201 in its Brigade No. 6 area, was attacked by DKBA troops at 4am on Monday.
"Fighting broke out when they launched a surprise attack on our camp. There were only some of our troops stationed there as it was not a strategic place," said the major.
"The clash lasted about two hours. So far, we have had reports that one of our troops has been killed and the DKBA has captured another one."
The major said the assault could have been a revenge attack after a DKBA officer was killed in fighting between troops from the Karen National Liberation Army, the military wing of the KNU, and forces from DKBA Battalion 907 and the regime's Light Infantry Battalion 546 on 24 June.
"Major Zaw Gyi, deputy commander of DKBA Battalion 907, was killed when we clashed with them at a place called Htee Moo Htar in Brigade No. 6 area. Maybe that's why they attacked our camp yesterday," said Saw Hla Ngwe.
"As a result, over 60 Karen villagers working on corn plantations at a village near by had to flee to the Burma-Thailand border."
The KNLA's Wal Lay Khee camp is located 25 km south of Mae Sot, a Thai town on the border with Burma.
Reporting by Naw Say Phaw
