Vanity Fair has an interesting selection of photos taken by Roberto D’Addona on a 2007 trip to a Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) base near the Thailand-Burma border. D’Addona also provides an account of his brief foray across the border. Readers with an interest in these issues, and particularly those who have followed recent New Mandala discussions of foreign fighters linking up with the Karen National Liberation Army, will find much of what is said quite interesting.
D’Addona’s analysis of the border situation is problematic but, given what he saw in his brief time across the border, his take seems like a reasonable misunderstanding of the difficult conditions under which Burma’s ceasefires are maintained. But there are questions: Who was the “United Nations peacekeeper” who went with him? And don’t the DKBA and the tatmadaw have a long-standing ceasefire (for over a decade…not just for two days!)? Don’t they still, more often than not, undertake joint operations against their shared enemies?
On reflection, to my eye, his account of life at the DKBA camp raises many more questions that it answers. I would like to know much more…
…and, on that note, if any New Mandala readers have spent time in a DKBA camp in the past few years it would be great to hear from you.
Regardless of what he took away from his time with the DKBA, it does appear that D’Addona and company received a warm welcome as “representatives” from abroad. That, in itself, is a notable part of the story. Readers who are new to the DKBA - and want to get a taste of how they fit in to the border scene – may find these brief summaries useful. And thanks, of course, to Ashley for drawing my attention to the Vanity Fair pictures.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Brian M // May 24, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I believe I can answer your questions. I am the “United Nations peacekeeper.”
Before continuing I would like to make it clear that I have never worked for the UN. I was present in a private capacity as a researcher.
The trip was pre-arranged, as are most trips like this, and we didn’t “need” Roberto to get across. It was Karen New Year and I had been invited. Roberto was a friend of a friend – the English guy – who wanted to go to the new year’s celebrations, so we all went together.
There was no reason to claim to be a UN worker or make up any other cover stories. The relationship that Roberto claims needed to be built had already existed for some years. Journalists and other foreigners had been going to DKBA camps for Karen New Year celebrations for several years already.
The commander, Colonel Lah Pwe, while allegedly a drug trafficker, is a very gracious host and we had dinner with his family, soldiers and villagers and were even invited to talk with him in his personal bedroom/sitting room. We did not sleep in a barracks, but in a house in the village.
The DKBA and SPDC have been allies since the first day of their creation. Other than a few very isolated incidents, there has been no fighting between the DKBA and the Burmese Army. Technically the DKBA don’t really have a ceasefire with the regime since they have never been at war with each other. The DKBA have an agreement with the local Burmese battalion that they come into the town on a regular basis as a part of their patrolling.
I can understand why Roberto may have seen the soldiers as “mean”, since men in uniforms with large guns always tend to look that way. Most of the DKBA were very friendly, if anything they were reserved out of shyness. In fact, Roberto was able to get portraits of the commander of the battalion and his deputy who both happily agreed. The Burmese Army soldiers, however, were not so friendly. But then they have a distrust of foreigners taught into them by their officers and, as I’ve encountered in similar situations, are often under orders to not allow their pictures to be taken.
The DKBA unit at Waley has a very close relationship to the SPDC, which makes the final paragraph of the interview rather misleading. This battalion and local Burma Army units have conducted joint operations against the KNU in the area in the past.
2 Brian M // May 24, 2008 at 1:37 pm
For more detailed information on the DKBA, the various reports published by the Karen Human Rights Group (www.khrg.org) are an excellent source of information.
3 Charles F. // May 24, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I, too, thought it was very odd that the DKBA was having problems with the SPDC.
As many people know, the DKBA broke away from the KNLA because they (the DBKA) felt that they were getting short shrift from the KNU leadership.
The DBKA made peace with the SPDC, and then went on to attack the KNLA at every opportunity.
In addition, it’s said that they guard the drug labs and smugglers for the SPDC.
The “U.N. rep” is also pretty strange. I sort of wonder if it was just some guy passing himself off as one so he could gain access.
4 Nicholas Farrelly // May 24, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Thanks Brian M.,
Just what I was looking for – some clarification. It all makes a great deal more sense now.
Best wishes to all,
NIch
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