Three Pagodas Pass -- Buddhist monks and local village headmen met recently in Kya-In Seik-Kyi Township and reached consensus in their opposition of recruitment activities being carried out by the Democratic Buddhist Karen Army (DKBA).

An official of the Karen National Union (KNU) said, “The village headmen and senior monks held a meeting in Kya-In Seik-Kyi Township where a decision to oppose the DKBA recruitment was made.  They aren’t against the recruitment of KNU soldiers because the KNU’s aim is to fight the Burmese Army.  But the aim of DKBA’s recruitment is to fight against each other.  Therefore they oppose this action.”

The source said that the Abbot of Pa-Pya Village, the Reverend Pinnya-Sara and the Abbot of Khalai Takhon Taing, the Reverend Thuzarta will convey their decision to the senior monk of the DKBA, Reverend Thuzana.  The two Abbots, Reverend Thuzarta and Reverend Thuzana studied together at Jone-Jone Ja Temple in Mudon, Mon State in the past.

The DKBA has ordered local village headmen to send between 10 and 30 new soldiers from their villages in Anan Kwin, Kya-In Seik-Kyi and Three Pagodas Pass.

Local youth from Kawkareik and Pa-an townships have been forced to join the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. These youth are being sent to the front lines to fight the KNU.

On August 1, 2009, about 500 individuals from Taundee village gathered at the office of DKBA Battalion No. 906 where they met Lt. Col. Mahn Nyan Min.  As requested by the DKBA, they gave 75 sacks of rice and 1.5 million Kyat instead of twenty five new soldiers for the recruitment.

The SPDC has told the Karen Peace Force (KPF) and the DKBA leaders to transform their organizations to the Border Guard Force.  DKBA leaders are aggressively recruiting local people in response.  Since many Karen are reluctant to join the soldiers, they have deserted the DKBA and surrendered to the KNU.  A KNU source reported that 76 soldiers from the DKBA and KPF surrendered to the KNU Brigade No. 6 in July and August.