Colonel Tun Tun Latt(Photo:KIC)
Mizzima
The commander of the Thinganyinaung Strategic Hill army base in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, Colonel Tun Tun Latt, said that he was responsible for his soldiers surrendering to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allies.
Reflecting on his decision to surrender Colonel Tun Tun Latt said: “I couldn’t consult my superiors before making such a choice, as I would with my subordinates. This decision was mine alone, and I was prepared to sacrifice my life for it.”
On 5 April the KNLA and its allies attacked the Thinganyinaung Strategic Hill at 8:00 am and took over the base by 1:00 pm the same day.
As a result of the fighting 617 junta personnel and their family members under Colonel Tun Tun Latt’s command surrendered to the KNLA and its allies, the largest mass surrender ever recorded in Karen State.
Of those who surrendered there were 410 junta soldiers, 67 junta army officers, 59 police officers and 81 family members, according to the Karen Information Center (KIC).
Colonel Tun Tun Latt also defended the military’s action saying: “We serve in the Tatmadaw, so we cannot label it a coup d’état. Our actions were to maintain control. In the pursuit of national improvement, we inevitably encountered challenges.”
He also believes that the junta army should not be blamed for displacing people. He said: “Losses occur during conflicts. According to military protocol, we defend what is necessary to defend. Evacuating civilians is not within our mandate.”
He also excused junta airstrikes on civilians claiming that bombing unarmed civilians was not offensive and necessary for the junta to defend itself.
He said: “In war, strength prevails. In the absence of missile defence, we employ air power to safeguard our territory. Our aircraft were not deployed for offensive purposes; rather, they were used in response to attacks on our territory, ensuring the safety of our people.”
Colonel Tun Tun Latt was previously stationed at the Military Operation Command headquarters in Moe Kaung Town, Kachin State. When Mizzima investigated, locals said that Colonel Tun Tun Latt had violently suppressed anti-coup protesters in Myitkyina following the coup.
