Bangkok: The leading ethnic Rebel group in Myanmar suspended one of the key leaders this week, said a spokesman on Saturday, for investigating the alleged massacre of civilians in his area.
Myanmar has been in chaos since the February coup overthrew the Government of Aung San Suu Kyi, triggered a large protest among civilians and renewed clashes between military and ethnic forces in the border area.
The Karen National Union (Knu), one of Myanmar’s biggest rebel group in the East which has rushed to the military for decades has been locked in new conflicts with troops since the coup.
In May, the government managed media accused the fighters of one of the group’s armed wings, Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO), from May 31’s massacre of 25 construction workers, a suspicion that would be investigating.
A spokesman Padoh saw Taw Nee confirmed on Saturday that the Head of Kndo General Ner, BO Mya and his subordinate Lieutenant saw Ba Wah, “temporarily suspended”.
“According to the Geneva Convention, even if they are our enemies, we only caught them, you can’t kill like that,” he said.
“We stand upright at our commitment to the Geneva Convention and the international community, and we have to deal with this carefully.” The decision made on Monday by leaders is likely to sow disputes in the rebel group, whose political division of the handling of Junta has spilled in the past few months for the public.
But Padoh saw Taw Nee defend the suspension as a “part of our procedure”.
General Ner Dah Bo Mya could not be contacted for comments.
The Myanmar border area is a patch of regions and alliances held by more than two dozen rebel groups, most of whom have been fighting with the military for more autonomy and resources.
Since the coup, it has clashed sporadically with the Myanmar military along the Thai border.
In March his fighters won the military post and soldiers replying with air strikes, the first in more than 20 years in Karen.
The group also condemned the military for Power Take, and provided a shelter for dissidents working to overthrow the State Administration Board because Junta had dubbed itself.
Nearly 890 people have been killed by Junta security forces since February 1, according to local monitoring groups.