While the Burmese government’s campaigns against the remaining ethnic groups still fighting is well-documented, a more insidious, political approach seems to be reaping some dividends. In recent weeks, a split in the ranks of the Karen National Union may now be exploited by the regime, while a group of Shan State Army-South fighters has already defected to the regime.

A statement issued on Sunday by a group of fighters from the KNU’s military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, said it no longer recognizes orders from the current KNU leaderships. The group accused leaders of corruption and lack of vision.

This follows a growing rift between the KNU’s political leaders and military factions since some KNLA members met junta officials.

The KNLA’s Col Ner Dah Mya, son of KNU former longtime leader Gen Bo Mya, met Col Tin Soe, military attache at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok, in late June. At the meeting, the officials invited the ailing, ageing Bo Mya to receive medical treatment in Rangoon, also offering 300,000 baht (US $7,800) to cover expenses.

KNU headquarters promptly said it had not sanctioned the meeting. But the KNLA faction then said it was unhappy about the KNU leadership’s own meeting with a junta delegation led by Col Myat Htun Oo, from the Burmese army military affairs security department, at the Thai border town of Mae Sot. Myat Htun Oo also offered medical help for Bo Mya.

While Bo Mya is understood to have turned down the offer made in Mae Sot, the 79-year-old rebel leader planned to take up the other offer of a medical trip via Bangkok. His trip was cancelled at the last minute.

The disputes over Bo Mya’s medical treatment follow evidence of a number of incidents taking place recently without the KNU leadership’s permission. Some of those involved in such incidents are regarded by KNU headquarters as traitors.

One such person, Pastor Timothy, who was expelled from the KNU in 2005, has defended his position by saying the KNU leadership should seek common ground for contact with the military regime.

There seems to be similar disarray in the leadership of the SSA-S. Earlier this month, Col Moengzuen, commander of the SSA-S’s 758 brigade, ignored summonses from his headquarters and defected to the junta with his men.

Moengzuen, aide to former drug lord Khun Sa, had fallen fowl of the SSA-S leaders after supporting the concept of a Shan government in exile, when it declared itself in 2005. The SSA-S had rejected it.

In another incident earlier this year, another SSA-S faction led by Khun Kyaw-also known as Than Gyaung-was apprehended by Burmese troops while carrying out activities not condoned by the SSA-S leadership.

Observers say both incidents resulted from lack of effective SSA-S leadership, and were exploited by the junta-leading to Moengzuen’s defection. It is depressing to see the junta moving quickly like this, outside the theatre of battle.

Perhaps it will now take advantage of discord among the Karen rebels.