Son of late insurgency leader defects to Myanmar's government

Apr 4, 2009, 5:52 GMT

   Yangon- A son of late Karen rebellion leader general Bo Mya has defected to the Myanmar's military junta, an official statement said Saturday.

   Nay Soe Mya, with a group of soldiers and their families totaling 159 people, crossed over on March 30 to enjoy the 'fruits of regional development' after 'witnessing the nation-building endeavours being carried out by the state,' the statement said.

   The ethnic Karen's 60-year fight for autonomy, is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain as Myanmar's military chips away at its remaining hold on the mountainous border region with Thailand, analysts say.

   Nay Soe Mya, one of three surviving sons of Bo Mya - who died a legendary warrior in 2006 aged 81 - has joined Htain Maung, a former brigade leader, who was sacked from the Karen army in January 2007 after making an independent peace deal with the government, a Karen guerrilla on the Thai-Myanmar border said.

   Htain Maung is believed to have been allocated land for settlement and permitted to carry on a logging trade.

   'We consider them traitors who have become defeatist, and corrupt too. They want money and they have been given (trade) concessions,' the rebel fighter said. Nay Soe Mya is related by marriage to Htain Maung, he added.

   The State Peace and Development Council, as the ruling junta styles itself, is keen to suppress all potential problems ahead of elections designed to produce a 'civilian government' controlled by the military, early next year.

   Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, gained independence in 1949. It has a myriad of minority groups at odds with the central authority, which has historically not been in complete control of the border regions. Several groups yet fight for autonomy, the Karen being the biggest.