More than 20 members of an ethnic Karen breakaway group led by Maj-Gen Htain Maung returned to the Karen National Union (KNU) on Thursday evening, fearing that they would be next in a cycle of reprisal killings that has claimed a number of lives in recent months.

According to the leader of the group, Capt Hser Htee, the escape was prompted by the execution of Lt-Col Kyaw Aye, under whom he had served. Kyaw Aye was suspected of being the mastermind behind the killing of Col Ler Moon, son-in-law of Maj-Gen Htain Maung, in late January.

Htain Maung heads a splinter group that defected from the KNU early last year. Kyaw Aye was reportedly killed after Htain Maung handed him over to Burmese government troops in early February, according to Hser Htee.

The returning group, including women, children and eight soldiers, is currently under the control of Brig-Gen Jonny, commander of the 7th Brigade of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the military wing of the KNU.

Htain Maung was the KNLA’s 7th Brigade commander until he defected from the KNU to form the breakaway group now known as the KNU/KNLA Peace Council. Ler Moo was killed while sleeping at a communications office near the KNU/KNLA Peace Council’s headquarters.

Hser Htee told The Irrawaddy on Friday, “He [Htain Maung] doesn’t trust our group anymore. I received repeated anonymous phone calls telling me that Htain Maung wanted to see me.”

“They planned to kill not just me, but also my wife and children. When I realized I was on his hit list, I just tried to escape,” said Hser Htee, adding that local Karen villagers helped him to escape.

Hser Htee was a senior leader of Battalion 703 under the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, which was formed after some 300 soldiers from KNLA Brigade 7, led by Htain Maung, defected to the Burmese army in February 2007.

Two weeks ago, on February 14, the general secretary of the KNU was assassinated at his home in the Thai border town of Mae Sot.