9/18/2008

Paletwa: The Chin National Army ambushed a column of SPDC troops on Tuesday on the Indo-Burma border as the Burmese soldiers were patrolling the area, said a local villager who fled to Bangladesh out of fear of action by the authority.

He said, "The CNA started its ambush of the SPDC column in the early morning near Shwe Late Wa Village under Paletwa Township, and I heard one SPDC soldier received critical injuries during the battle."

The fighting only lasted for five minutes, but heavy fire was exchanged between the two groups. According to an army source, the column led by Captain Kywee Wa was ambushed by the CNA forces while the column was serving its duty on the frontlines of the Indian border.

The column is from Light Infantry Battalion 550 based in Ponna Kyunt, located 20 miles north of Sittwe.

The villager said that the SPDC army authority is conducting an operation in the area after the ambush. It was also learned that many villagers in the area are now avoiding the area out of fear the authorities may force them to work as porters or otherwise mistreat them.