SUMMARY
Following the adaption of a new constitution in 2008, the government wanted to transform all ceasefire groups into Border Guard Forces. Saw Hla Bwe was initially positive to the idea which he declared in a December 2009 interview. At a meeting in Myaing Gyi Ngu on 27 April 2010, DKBA agreed to the government proposal to transform into a Border Guard Force. However, the meeting was boycotted by DKBA Brigade 5 Commander Saw Hla Bwe and some other commanders critical of the border guard option. On 18 August and 20 August 2010, ceremonies were held in Myaingkyigoo township and Paingkyon in Kayin State as DKBA officially became a Border Guard Force. Saw Hla Bwe/Saw Law Bwe formed the DKBA 5, or Democratic Karen Benevolent Army.
In an interview with Saw Lah Pwe on 8 November 2010, he declared that DKBA 5 wanted to improve the life of the Karen people, and that the government had reneged on promises made in the ceasefire with DKBA. He later declared that even if the prime goal remained Karen-specific, the group wanted to contribute to the removal of the regime and increased rights for all ethnic peoples of Burma.
DKBA 5, continued to fight against the government, cooperating with the KNU, before signing a ceasefire with the government in 2011. Clashes erupted again in 2013, making the conflict with the government active again for the year. Spread clashes also took place during 2014 and 2015, but did not reach 25 deaths. The clashes during 2015 started in July and were focused along the Asia Highway in Kayin State, where elements of the DKBA-5 operated roadblocks and smaller bases. At a meeting July 7 including the state government, KNU, KNU/KNLA Peace Council and the military, the DKBA-5 said that it was not in control of the troops involved in the clashes, led by Colonel Saw Kyaw Thet and Colonel Saw San Aung.
After continued clashes and talks, the two colonels were thrown out from the DKBA-5 on July 23 together with their units.
The DKBA-5 then, on October 15, signed the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government. It is likely that the expulsion of Colonel Saw Kyaw Thet and Colonel Saw San Aung was significant during the negotiations.
Colonel Saw Kyaw Thet and Colonel Saw San Aung went on to clash with the government during the end of 2015, and “reactivated” the original Democratic Karen Buddhist Army at the beginning of 2016.
On March 13 2016, the commander of the DKBA-5, General Saw Law Pwe, died from his long-running throat cancer, and was replaced by the deputy commander General Moe Shay.
