HRP Headquarters seized by a Muslim and Karen joint armed force

 

Independent Mon News Agency

September 20, 2004

 

Hongsarwatoi Restoration Headquarter (HRP) seized by an unknown armed group and one of HRP chairman daughter died on the spot and his wife and other one of his soldier wounded after the fighting according to HRP member.

 

The HRP headquarters in Tavoy District, in Thailand-Burma border area was seized on September 18’s morning after an armed groups entered in there and fired to HRP chairman Nai Pan Nyunt shelter house according to HRP spoke-person Mr. Nai Kon Chan Nai.

 

“We believed that a Muslim armed group joined with some Karen soldiers under the control of Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) came and fight our headquarters. At the moment one of our soldier, Nai Yarkha has been arrested and beaten for interrogation by this armed group,” said Nai Kon Chan Nai.

 

“I have not heard about that. I am not sure. But it can be because of HRP had been collecting tax in our KNU control area,” said KNU spoke-person Phado David Thakapaw.

 

“At the moment HRP split out into three groups because of the fighting after this armed group entered to HRP Headquarters in secret ways,” Nai Kon Chan Nai added.

 

“It must be an armed group and some person who regularly reached to our Headquarters involved in this case because they knew our land-mine places,” Nai Kon Chan Nai added.

 

All of the HRP shelters are burnt down after the Muslim-armed groups joint with Karen armed group shot in the camp in order to split HRP armed group, according to HRP members.

 

“At the moment Nai Pan Nyunt’s wife took medical treatment in a hospital in Thai territory after wounded in chest,” HRP members said.

 

In the area there are KNLA, Muslim armed group and National Democratic Army led by Bado Aung Thwin groups have launched their armed activities.  

 

Some source said it must be NDA, but NDA leader Bado Aung Thwin said “they have no men with arm, and no decision to fight against HRP.”

 

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