Mawlamyine, March (30)
A massive military offensive launched by the military council is intended to split KNU and PDF, KNU spokesman Pado Saw Taw Ni said.
In addition to the military build-up, the military council has attacked using armored vehicles, and carried out artillery shelling and airstrikes in the KNU-controlled areas of Hpapun District Brigade 5 and Dooplaya District Brigade 6.
The military council’s move is seen as splitting the KNU and the PDF coalition, and later the KNU will be pressured for a ceasefire, Pado Saw Taw Ni said.
“The PDFs are under our control. We could not stand when we were attacked and the people were hurt. The military council’s current offensive is making it harder for PDF forces to survive and communicate with each other,” he added.
However, the KNU will continue to fight for the overthrow of the military dictatorship. If the military council really wants a ceasefire, it will need to withdraw all troops from KNU-controlled areas, said Pado Saw Taw Ni.
“Our stance is clear. We will fight until the dictators are uprooted. If you want a ceasefire, you have to be sincere. Get rid of all the troops in this area.
Then we can consider the next step. And if the military council really wants a ceasefire, it needs to be done carefully, not just in one place, but in all parts of the country,” he said.
Currently, there is ongoing fighting in the KNU-controlled area of Dooplaya District Brigade 6, and due to the high number of casualties on the military council, it is using airstrikes and sending large numbers of troops.
News- Than Lwin Times