Karenni Resistance Capture SAC Camps in Mese Township
By Network Media Group
Monday, November 13, 2023
The Karenni resistance has killed 16 soldiers from State Administration Council (SAC) and injured others during the capture of the Bzedrma camp near Pan Tein and another camp in Karenni State along the Thai border. Multiple weapons were confiscated from SAC.
According to an information officer from Hpasaung People’s Defense Force (PDF) requesting anonymity, on the resistance side, a Karenni Army (KA) soldier and a Karen Nationalities Defence Army (KNDA) soldier were killed in battle, and eight fighters were seriously injured.
The officer explained that SAC troops were deployed to the area just outside Pan Tein, where they built the camp on land formerly held by Karenni National People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF). KNPLF, a Border Guard Force under the Burma army since 2009, officially separated in June to fight the military regime.
SAC troops who had occupied the village’s school and clinic were repelled by KNPLF, KA, KNDF, and PDFs from Hpasaung and Bawlakhe during last Tuesday’s battle.
Due to the predictability of SAC’s strategy, the resistance groups were able to plan ahead, preventing the regime from deploying reinforcements to the area by land after capturing their bases. SAC was able to airlift some soldiers to the Pan Tein area using a helicopter.
“Our troops cut off their reinforcements on the road when we attacked a Burma army east of the Salween River in Hpasaung Township,” he explained, anticipating casualties. They didn’t seize weapons during this ambush, the officer said.
After capturing the Bzedrma camp, SAC retreated to the No. 1004 camp, formerly held by KNPLF when it was still a BGF. The soldiers reportedly mined the perimeter as a defensive strategy.
According to KNDF, the offensive marks the initial strike in its recently declared Operation 1107, aimed at liberating the state in western Burma from SAC’s control. Launched in coordination with Three Brotherhood’s Alliance 1027 Operation, which commenced on October 27, the alliance has successfully captured several towns and over 100 bases in northern Shan State.
Since June, Karenni groups have seized Tawng Hla, Mat Ta Nwe, Nam Pao, Mese police station, BP-13, and BP-14 in the township in Karenni State.
