Mizzima News

Chiang Mai - The body of Brigadier General Kaung Myat of the Burmese Army, who reportedly died during a clash with ethnic Karen rebels, will be cremated on Wednesday.

The Karen National Union, an armed resistance group that has fought Burma’s central government for over 60 years, said Brigadier General Kaung Myat was killed during a recent battle.

Major Saw Hla Ngwe, Joint Secretary (2) of the KNU, on Wednesday said Brigadier General Kaung Myat, commander of Military Operations Command No. (5) based at Thandaung Township in Pegu Division, was killed during a battle with the KNU on May 11th.

While the Burmese Army made no announcement of the battle, the state-run newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, on Wednesday carried an obituary of Brigadier General Kaung Myat. The paper, though not mentioning where the cremation will take place, did say family members would hold a 'Swan' offering to Buddhist monks for the deceased Brigadier General at the family's residence in Rangoon's Thingankyun Township. 

Brigadier General Kaung Myat, age 49, graduated from officer training batch 23 and is the third son of Captain Khin Hla, who lives in Mandalay. He is survived by his wife Khin Htwe, son Maung Kaung Kyaw Myat and daughter Hla Myat Noe, who live in the Thingyankyun residence.