KNU plots mine attack on army column in Phapon: Army

Karen National Union (KNU) plotted a mine attack on an army column providing security for road in Phapon Township, Kayin State killing the battalion commander on the spot, announced the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services on January 30.

The army is implementing to have eternal peace and tried to establish a ceasefire in the areas in which ethnic armed groups, which signed nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), are based. The army made negotiations with the respective organizations to build roads with soldiers from Works Battalion in Phapon Township to gather provisions annually, it said.

However the KNU attacked the army convoy about 12,000 meters away from southwest of Nattaung Village, Phapon Township on January 27 and the battalion commander was killed on the spot, said the announcement.

Although the army informed the KNU about the construction of roads in advance, the KNU attacked and plotted mine attacks on army convoys from November 2019 to January 2020. During these times, seven attacks, seven mine attacks and three time bomb attacks occurred and security forces deactivated 13 handmade mines.

The authorities sent warning and protest letters to the KNU and the army will take further action, it said.