Ethnic armed groups deny involvement in gas pipeline explosion

IMNA
February 18, 2006

The ethnic armed groups, Mon and Karen have dismissed as baseless the military regime's accusation that they caused the explosion on the Kanbauk-Myaingkalay gas pipeline in Mudon Township on February 1 night.

The military Southeast Region Command had blamed the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karen National Union (KNU) troops. The command also issued a warrant against a NMSP member of Kwan-hlar village where the gas pipe exploded.

NMSP Lt. Col Bloa Rot and some other NMSP army officers explained to the Burmese military authorities of the Southeast Region Command, that the NMSP had no hand in the explosion. But the military authorities in Moulmein did not withdraw the warrant against the NMSP member, Nai Ong Janae.

Like the NMSP, KNU also denied being involved. “They say it was KNU's handiwork But we are not involved,” KNU General Secretary Bado Mehm Shar said

KNU has no activity in the area where the gas pipeline exploded said Bado Mehm Shar. Although local people claimed they had seen some KNU members moving in the area before the explosion who disappeared later.

Local Mon community leader also claimed that it could be the government's propaganda because it had earlier announced that some rebel groups could blow up the pipeline and had enhanced security in the area for a while. The explosion occurred a week after the military regime sent troops to guard the pipeline.

Some NMSP members living in that area claimed it was part of the military government's plan to stop NMSP activities in the area. A local NMSP member said, “the military government could easily catch those who caused the explosion because they had already named the saboteurs. There is no way the culprits can get away. It does not make sense accusing it the  Karen or Mon group.”

Ten villagers and village secretary Nai Rae Jae have been detained in the military southeast region command base. According to a source close to the Nai Rae Jae family, he would not be easily released till the culprits are found.

The authorities have prohibited villagers from going out at night and have forced villagers to guard the pipeline.