Bo Nat Khann Mway

In this Burmese name, Bo is an honorific, not a given name.

Bo

Nat Khann Mway
Other name(s)Saw Lah Pwe
Nickname(s)"Bo Moustache", "Mr. Moustache"
Born(1962-07-18)18 July 1962[1]
Bago, Myanmar
Died13 March 2016(2016-03-13) (aged 53)[2]
Bago, Myanmar
Allegiance DKBA-5 (2011–2016)
DKBA (1994–2011)
KNLA (1976–1994)
Years of service1976 (1976)–2016 (2016)
RankCommander-in-chief
Battles / warsInternal conflict in Myanmar

Bo Nat Khann Mway (18 July 1962 – 13 March 2016), born Saw Lah Pwe[2] and also known by his nicknames "Bo Moustache" and "Mr. Moustache", was a Karen military officer and commander-in-chief of DKBA-5, an insurgent group in Kayin State, Myanmar (Burma).[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

The Nirvana song, "Mr. Moustache", from their debut album Bleach was written about Mway.

Bo Nat Khann Mway joined the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) after its split from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in 1994. In 2011, five DKBA brigades under the command of Bo Nat Khann Mway split from the group after they rejected the government's plan to convert the DKBA into a border guard force subservient to the Tatmadaw.[10] On 21 August 2010, two of the original five brigades under his command, comprising around 300 troops, integrated themselves into the newly formed border guard force.[11]

Bo Nat Khann Mway died from throat cancer on 13 March 2016, at a hospital in his hometown of Bago (Pegu).[2][12][13]

  1. ^ Naing, Saw Yan (4 October 2011). "Portrait of a Karen Warrior". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Naing, Saw Yan (14 March 2016). "Charismatic DKBA Leader Dies at 54". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  3. ^ Noreen, Naw (7 November 2010). "DKBA renegades seize border town". Democratic Voice of Burma. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  4. ^ Weng, Lawi (8 November 2010). "DKBA Troops Seize Three Pagodas Pass". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  5. ^ Wade, Francis (3 August 2010). "KNU general-secretary says Saw La Bwe may come home". Danielpedersen.org. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Burma attack 'a warning of possible civil war'" (Press release). Burma Campaign UK. 8 November 2010. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  7. ^ Wechsler, Maxmilian (5 December 2010). "A new phase in Burmese politics : What drives Brig Gen Saw La Bwe, the commander of the DKBA's 5th Brigade?". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  8. ^ Phanida (9 November 2010). "Junta bombards DKBA splinter group at Three Pagodas Pass". Mizzima. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  9. ^ Naing, Saw Yan (August 2010). "Mr. Beard Breaks Away". The Irrawaddy. Vol. 18, no. 8. Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  10. ^ Naing, Saw Yan (9 November 2010). "DKBA Brigade Leader Rejects Election Result". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  11. ^ Kha, Kyaw (26 August 2010). "Bo Moustache and followers still reject BGF plan". Mizzima. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  12. ^ "DKBA Leader, Major General Saw Ler Pwe Succumbs To Cancer « Karen News". karennews.org. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  13. ^ "DKBA leader Na Kham Mwe dies of cancer - The Nation". The Nation. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.