Military claims control over Karenni State’s Hpasawng; Dili slams Naypyidaw expulsion of top diplomat

Military claims control over Karenni State’s Hpasawng

Regime media reported that the military regained full control of Hpasawng town in Karenni State from Karenni resistance forces on Sunday. But sources close to the Karenni resistance told DVB that control of the town is still being contested with fighting ongoing. Hpasawng is located 73 miles (117 km) south of the Karenni State capital Loikaw.

In an interview with DVB in July, the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) Deputy Commander Maui Pho Thaike claimed that resistance forces had captured the regime’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 134 on July 2 after “besieging” LIB 135 on June 25. Regime media reported a counteroffensive began in Hpasawng after the recapture of Demoso town, 63 miles (101 km) north of Hpasawng, on Aug. 19.

Regime media reported that the bodies of an unspecified number of “terrorists” were killed and 17 weapons were seized after 37 clashes. It didn’t disclose the number of regime troops killed. Karenni’s Demoso, Hpruso, Bawlakhe and Loikaw townships are under regime control. Mese and Shadaw townships are under Karenni resistance control. Karenni State has a total of seven townships. Read more