KNU Colonel faces trial in Thai Court

February 27, 2009
by Salai Pi PiFriday, 27 February 2009 18:12
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Leader of an ethnic Karen resistance group, Colonel Ner Dah Mya is facing trial in a court in Thailand, charged with illegal possession of a weapon , an official of the group said.
Saw David Taw, a Central Committee member of the Karen National Union, on Friday told Mizzima that Col Ner Dah Mya , son of the late Karen leader Saw Bo Mya, was facing trial at the Tak provincial court in Thailand, after he was released on bail on January 19.
Saw David Taw said the Ner Dah Mya was arrested by the Thai Army on January 18, near Umpien village in Tak province, opposite Burma’s Myawaddy town, and charged for possessing a weapon and illegally transporting migrants.
“He was arrested on February 18 but was released on bail the next day,” Saw David Taw said.
Although Ner Dah Mya was released on bail, Saw David Taw said, “He continues to face trial in a provincial court.”
The Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the KNU, is Burma’s oldest insurgent group fighting for self-determination since 1948.
The KNLA suffered a heavy blow in 1995, when its headquarters Manerplaw, was overrun by the Burmese Army. Since then, the KNLA have been forced to retreat to the Thai-Burmese border and form temporary jungle camps. However, it continues to fight a guerrilla war against the Burmese Army.
David Taw said, Ner Dah Mya was in Tak province helping the KNLA in the area and denied the charges of illegally transporting migrants into Thailand. He said the heightened bilateral relationship between the Burmese military regime and Thailand might have led to the arrest of Col Ner Dah Mya.
“I think, our Colonel [Ner Dar Mya] has been arrested because the Burmese regime pressurized the Thai Army,” Saw David Taw said.
He added that the Burmese Army might have mounted pressure during the regular monthly meetings, held between Border Committees of the two countries.http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/1774-knu-colonel-faces-trial-in-thai-court.html