DKBA-BGF Conflict and Karen Unity

By Saw Thoo Lei & Eh K’Lu / The Karen Times | September 12, 2016

DKBA Troops Preparing for Assaults on Burma Army and BGF

On September 1, leaders of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army released a statement declaring that they were prepared to launch major attacks on the Border Guard Force across areas they operate in response to the death of one of their leaders, Maj. Na Ma Ja, allegedly killed by a mahout he had abducted for ransoms. There was no clear information and account in regard to Maj. Na Ma Ja’s death, because both the DKBA and BGF were giving different accounts of what happened. But the DKBA’s statement suspected that BGF was behind the assassination.

A few days later after the statement was released, a video surfaced on social media showing two of the DKBA’s prominent leaders, Gen. Kyaw Thet and Col. Bo Pi, giving a fiery speech and briefing their troops on the current military situation at an undisclosed location and instructing them on how to prepare and face major wars with the BGF. Maj. Bo Pi made it clear to his troops that BGF is their real enemy and they should focus on them, because the latter was intent on chasing and eliminating the DKBA splinter group.

As expected, reports soon emerged that troops from the Burma Army and Karen BGF were moving to and converging on Mae Tha Wor areas, a border town with Thailand in Hlaing Bwe Township, Karen State. Their targets were clear: a DKBA’s base in Mae Ta Wor areas commanded by Col. Bo Pi and another one outside of Myaing Gyi Ngo, a former headquarters of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

On September 11, according to local Karen news and Thai media, more than 2000 Karen villagers in Mae Tha Wor areas have fled to Thailand seeking temporary shelter. Videos also surfaced showing a convoy of trucks and cars carrying children, women, and villagers in Hlaing Bwe Township heading to the border with Thailand. In the past couple days, fighting have been reported with heavy artillery being used by the BGF. There have been no reports of official casualties, but unconfirmed sources in the fighting areas suggested that some BGF troops have suffered deaths and injuries due to landmines planted by the DKBA troops.

Background Story

The DKBA splinter group was formerly part of the larger DKBA group led by Gen. Saw Lah Pwe, who passed away in March of this year. The DKBA split up into two groups following the expulsion of Col. Sang Aung and Col. Kyaw Thet by Gen. Saw Lah Pwe in 2015 after their units engaged in armed clashes with the Burma Army and BGF on Asia Highway in Kawkareik Township, Karen State. After their expulsion, Col. Kyaw Thet and Col. San Aung regrouped and linked up with DKBA battalions in Hlaing Bwe Township commanded by Col. Bo Pi. Eventually, they also reactivated the original Democratic Karen Buddhist Army with the blessing and backing of its former spiritual leader and founder, monk U Thuzana.

It is still unclear who is really in charge of the central command of the DKBA splinter group, because each of its separate unit seems to operate independently with a very loose command structure at the top. In addition, the group has no designated headquarters and its troops seems to be mostly in hiding or on the run. But sources from local community and the Karen National Liberation Army suggested that the group has received food supplies from monastery in Myaing Gyi Ngo run by monk U Thuzana.

DKBA Gen. Kyaw Thet & Col. San Aung (Above) BGF Col. Chit Thu & Col. Maw Thu (Below). The four were former comrades in the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, but now find themselves on opposite side of the conflict.

According to sources from the KNLA, the DKBA manpower numbers around 150-200 soldiers and commanded by four experienced leaders, namely Gen. Kyaw Thet, Col. San Aung, Maj. Na Ma Ja (deceased), and Col. Bo Pi. In the aftermath of his death, it is not clear who has taken over command of the Maj. Na Ma Ja group or what happened to his troops. But separately, each group is believed to have anywhere from 20 to 60 active soldiers, and the biggest group is led by Col. Bo Pi, who has about 60 active followers under his command based in Mae Tha Wor areas. From a military stand point of view, the DKBA splinter group is relatively insignificant in terms of its ability to launch major wars against the Burma Army and the BGF troops.

However, it is also important to keep in mind that the DKBA splinter group is possibly commanded by some of the most experienced and battle hardened military leaders in Karen State. Col. San Aung, Gen. Kyaw Thet and Col.Bo Pi have years of military experience and have previously engaged in fighting with the Burma Army and BGF on many occasions. The fact that they are relatively small but highly mobile and elusive is a testament to their military and fighting ability, and that they are not to be taken lightly.

A Blow to Unity of the Karen Armed Groups

The current conflict could exacerbate tensions and jeopardize cooperation between the different Karen armed groups and undermine future unification efforts. Judging from comments in the social media and opinions in the Karen community, most Karen are against inter-Karen armed conflicts and blame Burma Army and self-serving BGF troops and its commander Col. Chit Thu for this latest round of conflict.

Many in the Karen community wanted the Karen National Union to intervene on the side of the DKBA, or at least negotiate a settlement between the two warring parties because they don’t want to see Karen killing each other. As fighting unfolds and continues, there is no indication that the Karen National Liberation Army will intervene on either side of the conflict. However, there are rumours that some KNLA soldiers in Brigade 7th are helping the BGF troops while other sources also suggested that other KNLA officers are warning Col. Chit Thu to pull back and deescalate the conflict. This suggests that tensions and fighting could escalate further and get bigger if the KNLA is drawn into the conflict.

According to sources from the DKBA, the Burma Army and BGF are intent on eliminating the Karen armed group and its leaders. The reinforcement and sending of several military trucks full of soldiers and supplies to Mae Tha Wor areas by the Burma Army and BGF in recent days is indication that they are planning for a long battle with the DKBA. But in the meantime, Karen community is watching nervously on how and when will the KNU and KNLA respond to this conflict. Should they stay neutral or take side, given that both groups involved in the current conflict are Karen? Or would intervention be in the interest of the KNU and KNLA? Meanwhile, the Commander-in-Chief of the KNLA, Gen. Jonny, is mostly mute on the current conflict.

How would this conflict benefit the KNU in the long run?

From a military and strategic point of view, the existence of the DKBA and BGF does not help the cause of the Karen armed struggle. Instead, it is detrimental to the survival of the KNU and wellbeing of the Karen people. For most Karen, the Karen BGF is nothing but a hated proxy armed group run by the Burma Army with no particular objective except to carry out its dirty works against the Karen people. The BGF is directed, equipped, armed, supplied and paid by the government to do dirty works that Burma Army deems too unnecessary for them to do. With this in mind, the BGF’s activities are against everything Karen people stand for and believe.

But does the DKBA do any better in comparison to the BGF? There is no doubt that DKBA’s leaders and their troops possess strong Karen spirit and sense of solidarity with the Karen people. They do not want to be controlled by the Burma Army and want to maintain their independence as an equal partner. From a Karen perspective, this is admirable and perfectly justifiable. However, the problem is that the DKBA also is not interested in working under the KNU leadership and allowing itself to be controlled and guided by the latter. This is where the real challenge for the KNU and Karen community begins.

For the past six years, the DKBA has had plenty of opportunities to reunite with the KNU and work for the common good of the Karen community. Following renewed armed conflicts with the Burma Army in 2010 after it refused to be transformed into the Border Guard Force, the DKBA has received considerable financial and military support from the KNLA in the hope that the two Karen armed groups will reunite. Unfortunately, while some units chose to rejoin the KNLA, a majority of the DKBA leadership had chosen a different path by resigning peace agreement with the government and continuing to maintain its independence from the KNU.

Likewise, current leaders and members of the DKBA splinter group had the opportunity to join the KNLA in 2015 after they were expelled from the main DKBA group. Following their expulsion, some like-mind KNLA officers again did their best to shelter and support them in times of need and in their darkest hours. But a lack of willingness to work with the KNLA under the leadership of the KNU has again influenced the group’s decision to be independent on its own. Sadly, instead of rejoining the KNLA, leaders of the DKBA splinter group decided to reactivate the former Karen Buddhist Army as a new Karen armed group.

It is unclear what the motivation of the DKBA is by renaming itself along religious line. But early this year, its spiritual leader monk U Thuzana had again made headlines in Karen community with his controversial and insensitive pagoda building projects inside Christian church’s compounds. Many Karen people are still deeply distrustful of the influential monk and have expressed grave concerns about his activities as he was considered the architect of the breakup of the KNU in 1994.

According to sources in the KNLA, the DKBA Buddhist faction is the most difficult Karen armed group to work with because it takes order directly from its spiritual leader monk U Thuzana. As one KNLA officer has recently complained, whenever a decision or policy proposal was made at a Karen armed groups meeting, the DKBA frustrated other Karen armed groups by saying that they needed prior permission from the monk before they could give an answer. Another KNLA officer also complained that the DKBA has taken advantage of the KNLA’s goodwill and patience by knocking on their door whenever they need help but refusing to rejoin them.

At present, it remains to be seen whether the BGF can defeat the DKBA and wipe it out in the Karen State. It is very doubtful, but if they did wipe out the DKBA, it won’t hurt the KNU and Karen people in the long run. For one thing, it is important to remember that both the BGF and DKBA pose danger to the KNU and do little good to the cause of the Karen struggle. In many ways, both groups are more or less self-serving and are more concerned about maintaining influence and power in local Karen community than truly serving the interests of the Karen people. While the BGF is the KNU’s clear enemy, the DKBA is less of an ally but more of a rival of the KNU that can pose serious challenge in the future if not contained early.

With this in mind, the elimination of either group in this conflict should be welcomed by any like-mind Karen who do seriously care about the future of the KNU and Karen armed struggle. And while it is necessary to look at the current conflict from different perspectives, it is important to bear in mind that the existence of several Karen armed groups in Karen State will not advance the Karen causes but will only undermine Karen unity and success. As a result, if the DKBA is eliminated, tasks for the KNU to bring back other Karen armed groups under its wing would get much easier.

Saw Thoo Lei is a former KNLA Special Force Soldier and Adviser. Saw Eh K’Lu is a Karen Youth Activist and member of the Karen Youth Organization Based in Hpa-An

This article originally appeared on The Karen Times on September 12, 2016