Three Pagodas Pass -- The Three Pagodas Pass border town on the Burma side of the border is still under the control of a combined force of soldiers from the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) contrary to an earlier report that they had retreated from the border town.

Refugees who had returned to Burma this morning have fled the area again after the Burmese Army shelled the border town from nearby on higher ground in the mountains. Many villagers had returned thinking that the DKBA force retreated from the border town after the guns ceased firing last night.

“We have returned to Palaing Japan after they (Burmese Army) launched their offensive of mortar attacks from higher up in the mountains.  One child was killed and three villagers were injured.  The wounded villagers were admitted to Sangkhlaburi Hospital,” said Nai Blai, who temporarily took shelter together with about 2500 villagers on the Thai side of the border town.

“We are still afraid to go back because they (BA) will continue to shell the town,” said Mi Khaing from the Thai side at the border town.

According to local source, there may be about 4000 refugees who fled to different areas and who require food and water. Some villagers were provided with food by the NGOs and the local Thai authorities.

Tension between the ethnic groups and the Burmese government had been rising after the government’s ultimatum to have the ethnic armies give up their arms to form into a Border Guard Force. About 1000 DKBA soldiers broke away from their main group after rejecting the BGF proposal ahead of the country’s first General Election in 20 years.

About 120 troops from the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 283 and 60 troops from the LIB No. 405 failed to defend the border town after the DKBA breakaway group launched their attack on November 8, 2010.  Employees from the government offices and the Burmese Army soldiers retreated to their battalions without a fight to the Karen troops who easily seized 9 arms from the BA.  Causalities on both sides are not yet known.

The DKBA troops had entered the border town on November 8th from different directions in the early morning taking over the town by noon.