August 13rd, 2021
The military council’s troops attacked and captured the Moscow Township Office in KNU-controlled Thaton District on August 11st at a time when the funeral service of Brig-Gen Saw Pa Lay, Brigade Commander of the Brigade-1 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) was held.
The Moscow Township office is located between Thaeeain village and Katike village in Paung Township.
“The military council attacked the office and abducted three members when some soldiers from the KNLA attended the funeral services of the brigade commander, said Padoh Saw Soe Myint, Secretary of the KNU-Thaton District.
Since the army used the ‘four cuts’ policy, the KNU withdrew from the Moscow Township in KNU-Thaton District due to various reasons. But the members in the territory are active.
This township was set up after the KNU signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government in 2015, Padoh Saw Soe Myint added.
Locals also confirmed that on the evening of August 11st, the military council’s troops arrived at the office, with four vehicles and captured it.
On July 26th, Padoh Saw Gaw Kho, in-charge of the KNU’s Moscow Township Office died of COVID-19.
Eye witnesses said recent days, a combined force of the military council and the Border Guard Force (BGF) has increased the deployment of troops and military activities in Thaton, Belin, Kyaikhto and Hpa-An Townships in the KNU-Thaton District (Brigade-1).
In addition, the military council searched the houses and took properties in Pyinmaseik village on August 11th, using women and locals as human shields, said the KNU.
In addition to the Bridge-1, the military council has deployed more troops in the KNU’s Brigade-5 territory in Karen State, according to local sources.
Sent by the KIC.