NAYPYITAW, 26 December 2021, (TON): According to an officer from the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) “a Karenni Army (KA) ambush on a Myanmar army vehicle in Karenni (Kayah) State’s Shadaw Township killed all four junta troops inside.”

Aung San Myint, deputy secretary of the KNPP, told Myanmar Now that the vehicle was carrying the commander of Infantry Battalion (IB) 134 based in Hpasawng Township, but that the attack was not planned.

He said “our group was out and about and ran into their vehicle, so we clashed.”

He added that the commander in question was likely a major, but the ranks of the other three men could not be determined because they were not in full uniform at the time of the attack.

Aung San Myint explained “it was just one vehicle that we clashed with, and this is our territory. I wouldn’t say they were trespassing as we were both operating in the region.”

Daily battles have been breaking out between the military and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force, which is comprised of the KA, KNPP and several local guerrilla groups in Karenni territory.