An interview with an officer of Tamu PDF Battalion-4
November 22, 2022
On November 15, the camps of Tamu Township People’s Defense Force (PDF) on the India-Myanmar border were lost. The military council attacked these camps with the use of excessive forces and weapons. The military council’s attacks aim to clear the PDF which prevents the transport of weapons into the country.
The Shan-Ni Voice interviewed an officer of Tamu PDF Battalion-4 about the latest situation.
Q: Can you explain about the losses of camps in recent days?
A: The military council has been stationed in Tamu for a long time. The military council plans to carry heavy weapons imported from Russia. The military gradually deployed its troops as it was unable to carry these weapons. The number of junta soldiers who arrived in Tamu was around 500. They arrived there by four columns. They (soldiers) advanced to our camp by firing heavy weapons. Finally, we had to withdraw as we were not in a position to resist it using our weapons.”
Q: How about the collection of your forces following withdrawal?
A: Our collection is as usual. Now we are using a guerrilla warfare system.
Q: Can you tell the main purpose of stationing on the India-Myanmar border?
A: The main point is the forests are located on the border. The main point is Tamu is loacted on the India-Myanmar border. It is very adjacent to Myanmar. There are forests between Myanmar and India. That’s why we are stationed here.
Q: Is it possible that Myanmar gets these weapons from India?
A: It is impossible. These weapons are available only in Russia. The army carries these weapons from Russia. It has been a long time since these weapons arrived in Tamu. The army is unable to carry these weapons. So We tried to ban the transport of these weapons.
Q: The military council buys these weapons from Russia and carries them through India.
A: These weapons were transported to Myanmar via India. These weapons arrived in Tamu around two months ago. The military is carrying out the deployments of troops as it is unable to carry them. First we attacked the military with heavy weapons. The army can carry these weapons only after our withdrawal.
Q: Has the military council carried these weapons?
A: These weapons are still on the way to Kalay. The military is gradually carrying these weapons.
Q: The PDFs in Kalay announced that the public should avoid using Kalay-Tamu Road.
A: This announcement is related to it. The military has sent two or three flights to Kalay. These flights are on standby. The military is likely to conduct airstrikes if it faces attacks.
Q: The military council buys these weapons from Russia. Can these weapons be used in civil war or the missiles intended to be used in international wars? May I know your review?
A: The military uses 12-wheel vehicles to carry these weapons. Among these weapons are chemical weapons. That is the worst. The world doesn’t allow the use of chemical weapons. It is not a surprising thing as the military is conducting airstrikes which are not allowed in civil wars. They will be nefarious to the limit. Russia and China always reject the proposals at the sessions of the UN about how the international community makes demands. I think the military is carrying the weapons which can swiftly crush the PDFs by taking advantage of it.
Q: Do you see it? How many weapons are included?
A: There are a lot of weapons as the military uses 13 12-wheel vehicles.
Q: How about the military column as the military has moved weapons? May I know your latest situation?
A: At present, we do nothing. We have some tactics as we are revolutionists. We are moving slowly. Now we are on Tamu-Kalay Road.
Q: Do you have anything to add?
A: We withdrew from six camps in Tamu. It is not easy to reconstruct the camps as we have lost all our camps. I would like to request the public to make donations for reconstruction as much as they can. We suffered heavy casualties. I want the public to see how I feel as we withdraw from our camps and to share the same grief with us. I would like to request the public to have a hand in the reconstruction rather than saying prayers.
Sent by Say Kaung Kham (Shanni Voice)