KAREN STATE- The spokesperson of KNU Brigade (5), Colonel Saw Kalado, said that the joint forces of KNU and junta troops that entered the Kataiti region, Phapm District have faced off and the junta column could not advance.
It is said that a column of military council troops has been advancing through Kama Maung town towards Kataiti village recently and before they reached Kataiti, there was a skirmish.
“From Kama Maung Town, some of the junta forces have come up to Kataiti. But we don’t know if the BGF (Border Guard Forces) are included, or not,” Colonel Saw Kalado said.
At the end of last September, the military reinforcements from Kamaung to Phapon had to retreat after being intercepted and attacked.
The military council camp in Phapon was attacked and seized or surrounded and blocked by the KNU and joint forces.
Phapon City is controlled by the KNU and the military strategy outside the city has also been cordoned off.
When it became difficult to send reinforcements from the ground due to the KNU and joint forces’ attacks and blockages, the military council arranged for airdrops of food and ammunition, the spokesperson of KNU Brigade (5).
Before the coup, more than 70 military council camps were in Phapon. According to the KNU Brigade (5) spokesperson, there are currently a little more than ten military camps left in Phapon due to the desertion of the junta forces.
