shwedarling.com

Gen. Bo Mya, a longtime leader of Myanmar’s largest guerrilla group, died early Sunday, a spokesman for the Karen National Union said. He was 79.

Bo Mya, who for decades led the fight for greater autonomy for the Karen and most recently held the post of defence minister, died at private hospital in western Thailand near the Myanmar border after suffering a long illness, according the group’s spokesman David Thaw.

Thaw said Bo Mya had suffered a myriad of illnesses including diabetes and heart and lung ailments. He also had suffered a stroke more than a year ago.

His body has been taken across the border into Myanmar and he will be buried with full military honors Dec. 26, the group said.

“This is the big loss for the Karen and all Myanmar ethnic fighters,” said Mahn Sha, the group’s general secretary. “Gen. Bo Mya has led the fight of the Karen for more than five decades.”

The Karen National Union has fought for autonomy since Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948. Once in control of large swaths of the Thai-Myanmar border, the KNU has seen its territory shrink to virtually nothing following the capture of their stronghold of Manerplaw in 1995.

Source: AP

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