Burma-Myanmar: More fighting between army and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) fighters in Karen State forced villagers to flee
Snipers from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) practice together on a firing range (Photo: The Irrawaddy)
Heavy fighting between the Burma Army and an ethnic Karen rebel group broke out in Kawkareik and Hlaingbwe townships in Karen State on Friday, forcing dozens of villagers to flee their homes.
The fighting between government soldiers and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) also forced the closure of a road linking Burma’s commercial capital Rangoon to the border town of Myawaddy.
Maj. Saw Zorro, liaison officer in Myawaddy with the Karen National Union (KNU), the largest ethnic Karen armed group, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the fighting began at 10 a.m. and lasted until around noon.
“We were informed by our troops close to the fighting areas that villagers nearby, including from Kawkareik, have fled their homes and are hiding because shells landed on their villages.”