Clarification on Death of Acting Battalion-241Commander

On June 4, 2014, Myanmar government troops planned to encircle and annihilate, with three military columns, troops of TNLA Tactical Command-5 and MNDAA (Kokant Army), who were active in areas between Kutkai and Tamo Nyeh.
The local Battalion 241 commander Major Kyaw Htin Aung was commander of the three Myanmar Army columns of troops from Division 88, battalions under MOC 16, and Battalion 241.

Contrary to reports in Myanmar military officers’ media, the family members of the battalion commander were not with him. As clashes took place frequently in the area, no military officer would bring his family to the area. The family of the Battalion 241 commander was at Kutkai-based Battalion 241 Camp.

Normally, the troops of KIA, TNLA and MNDAA would combine force for activity in the KIA Brigade 4 area, east of Kutkai. On that day, because of other important matter, the local KIA troops did not join the task force.

The TNLA-MNDAA military column vanguard was starting to cross Kutkai-Tamo Nyeh motor road at a place where the road led to the area where 3 columns of Myanmar Army troops had taken position. At thattime, guards on three 4-wheel SUVs, bearing Myanmar army officers on the way to supervise military operations, sighted the crossing and started to shoot. An exchange of fire occurred and the TNLA-MNDAA troops noticed the presence of Myanmar military officers in the cars and fired 2 RPG rounds at them.

One round hit the front part of the second car and exploded and the other exploded on the ground onthe side of another car. The front part of the car taking direct hit was crushed and the TNLA-MNDAA military column had reported that officers in the front part of the car would surely be killed. At that time, it was not known that the battalion commander was in the car and he was killed.

When the RPG round hit the car, gun fire from Myanmar troops ceased and, as the TNLA-MNDAA troops beat a hasty retreat, the fire fight ended.

TNLA/PSLF News & Information Departmen