ABSDF 102 MaeNerPlaw (1992)

ABSDF soldiers from my camp (ABSDF 102). This was taken at Naw Ta battle front, MaNerPlaw battle. 3 division of Burmese soldiers attack an approximately 10 miles long battle line. They used many heavy weapons including 105 mm Howitzer, 75 mm recoiless rifles, 120 mm heavy motors, 82 mm and 81 mm motors. They successfully repulsed the attack. The following year, MaNerPlaw was taken without a heavy fight by help of a break away Karen group (Democratic Buddhist Karen Army). I was already in the US at that time.

These pictures tell the story of the world's only volunteer student army (ABSDF) soldiers life in the front line.




These pictures of troops from ABSDF 102 camp were taken at MaNerPlaw, Karen rebel's headquarter, before they left for Naw Ta front line. Burmese military launched three major offenses to occupy the area. Three Burmese infantry divisions did participate in the frontal attack and three another divisions supported the attack ( total number about 50, 000 soldiers). They used 105 mm howitzers, 120 mm/81 mm/82 mm large motors, and 57/75 mm recoiless rifles. Combined rebel forces including student fighters repulsed the attack. Finally, a Karen splinter group (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) defected to the Burmese regime. The defensive line controlled by DKBA was taken by Burmese army without a fight. MaNerPlaw fell without a severe fight after that.

Mae Nar Plaw battle (102 troops)

Ko Moe Thee Zun (chairman ABSDF) inspecting ABSDF 102 troops at Mae Nar Plaw headquarter (1992) before troops heading to Naw Ta frontline. Ba Saw Tun (middle -long hair) was the 102 commander at that time. He later stepped on a landmind in that front and was partially amputated. He later resetted in Germany. Ko Paing (far right) also resettled in Columbia, SC.

ABSDF 102 Mae Ner Plaw (1992)

(left to right) Win Naing (resettled in Australia), Aung Ko Ko (resettled in Canada. He jumped off the Niagara fall), Win Htay Oo (resettled in Charlottesville, VA)
ABSDF102 troops before heading to Naw Ta front line. This is taken in 1992 at MaeNarPlaw headquarter. Ko Nyo (front row-far right) resettles in the US. He is now running a Thai restaurant ( www.gx04.com ) in Columbia, SC. Super (front row, second from right wearing an olive uniform) drowned in Thaungyin river. Aung Ko Ko (front row) with a yellow towel resettled in Canada. He jumped off the Niagara fall.

ABSDF 102 camp at HtepSake (Circa 1996)

ABSDF 102 troops (circa 1996) taken at HtepSake camp (near southern Thailand). Aung Soe (back row with beret cap) was killed in action around 1998.

Ko Ko Oo (Ye)

Ko Ko Oo was a second year university student when 8.8.88 uprising happened. He was killed in Yinye village battle on January 23, 1991 in Ye township. He was my platton commander and I was the platton medic. Three students (Ko Ko Oo, Than Bo and Kyaw Soe Lay) were killed in action. 6 of us including me were wounded. The fight lasted for about 1-2 hours. There were about 14 of us against 1 company of soldiers. We were outgunned and outnumbered. We fought bravely. The top left picture is their graves.

Kya Thit Mg Paing

Kya Thit Mg Paing. He was one of the ex-soldiers who joined ABSDF. He was killed in action along with Ko Toe and Khin Soe at Arutaung village battle in Ye township in 1990.

Ko Toe

Shwe Ba and Tin Htun

Saya Shwe Ba (Top picture) holding a M79 grenade launcher during Three Pagoda Pass battle.
Tin Htun (bottom picture) was a squad commander when he was killed. Both of them were killed in the battle of Ye town ( March 22, 1990). They were close to each other. Saya Shwe Ba handpicked Tin Htun when he was chosen to lead student fighters for that battle. 5 ABSDF students and 38 Mon National Liberation Army fighters were killed. All of them were cornered at the township sports stadium and captured alive. Town people later told this story. All of them were stripped to their underwear and beaten savagely in front of town people since most of the people are sympathetic to the cause. Later, they all were forced to dig their own graves and killed. We heard they were either beaten to death or bayonetted.

The day this photo is posted to this blog is the 19th anniversary of their death.

Ko Toe

Ko Toe, a graduate from Rangoon University, was killed in action in 1990. He was the vice chairman of our camp when he was killed. This photo was taken in 1989. I fought along side with him during 1989 campaigns. He was killed in battle at Arutaung village in Ye township in 1990. Maung Paing (Platoon comander) and Khin Soe was also killed in that fight. They were outnumbered and outgunned.

ABSDF troops

Ah Ba Aye Myint

Col: Aye Myint (Bo Sun Nyo) was a former commander of Burmese Light Infantry Division 44 (Tat-Ma 44). He set up several military training programs for the students such as ABSDF commander training, Commando training, etc., (Picture was taken in 1991)
I have never met him in person. He is well respected by all of us and most of call him "Ah Ba".

ABSDF troops

ABSDF students at Manerplaw Headquarter (1991). Front row, third from the left, Ko Shwe Aye, A graduate from Rangoon Institute of Technology (R.I.T) was murdered in Mergui township. a

The guy sitting at the far right end of the middle row was Ko Khin Htun Kyi of ABSDF regiment 212 (previously Wang Kha camp, ABSDF regiment 211). He was shot and killed by an enemy sniper when he was on a boat travelling along Salween River on February 9, 1995.

ABSDF clinic

An ABSDF clinic of Southern Division (ABSDF regiment 202, led by Aung Than Win) (1992)
Malaria is a major killer of students.

Ko Kyaw Htet, Saya Shwe Ba and Ko Thiri

Front left to right: Ko Kyaw Htet (People Defense Force-PDF), Saya Shwe Ba (holding a M79 launcher) and Ko Thiri Nyunt. Three Pagodas Pass battle days (February 13, 1990).

(Courtesy Ko Thiri) Kyaw Soe Lay

Kyaw Soe Lay (white shirt with a black collar) training with a bamboo gun in Hway Kok camp (beginning of ABSDF 102). He was killed in action in Yin Ye village (Ye township).

Moe Taung camp

Moe Taung camp members (ABSDF)

Yin Htwe (Three Pagoda Pass)

Front: Yin Htwe. This was taken at Three Pagoda Pass during the attack. He was moving supplies. Yin Htwe went back inside for underground work. He was arrested and jailed for 10 years. He left for Thai-Burma border after he was released and now works at Burma Political Prisoners' Union based on the border.

Ko Toe in KyaInnSeikKyi front line (Circa 1989)

Ko Toe (blue shirt) and Saya Aye Min at 102 camp in "Japan Yae-Dwin village". Ko Toe later died in action at Arutoung village battle.

Ko Toe (in the middle with beret cap) at a meeting with Mon National Liberation Army leaders in KyaInnSeikKyi town ship.

Si Thu (ABSDF 204)

Funeral of Si Thu (ABSDF 204) killed in action at Manerplaw battle.

Story of the fight at Yin Ye village retold by Ko Thiri

Kyaw Soe Lay (center-white shirt with a black collar-Circa 1988-89) training with a bamboo gun.
This is the story of the fight at Yin Ye village told by Ko Thiri Nyunt. There were 15 of us (two squads) against a company (40) of Burmese soldiers. It was a close and brutal fight. We were fighting within30-50 yards range. We lost Ko Ko Oo, Than Bo and Kyaw Soe Lay. 7 of us including me were wounded. Burmese soldiers ransacked the village after the fight.