Residents of Myawaddy, a bustling trade hub in Myanmar, found themselves fleeing across the border to Thailand on Tuesday amidst the unsettling sounds of explosions and gunfire. This mass exodus came after the Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic minority armed group, announced that they had successfully taken control of a crucial military base just 6 miles west of Myawaddy. According to reports from locals, more than 600 soldiers, police officers, and their families at the base surrendered to the KNU.
Upon contact with residents on Tuesday, it was revealed that the town was enveloped in a state of chaos, with gunshots and explosions echoing through the streets. One resident, choosing to remain anonymous for safety reasons, shared, “Some people fled already, especially those staying around the police station. We are hearing gunfire and explosions at this moment.”
While the situation remained tense with reports of ongoing violence, residents noted that the KNU fighters had not yet infiltrated the town. The bridge connecting Myawaddy to the Thai town of Mae Sot remained open, facilitating the escape of many locals seeking refuge across the border.
In the midst of the unrest, mobile phone services in Myanmar were disrupted, prompting residents to rely on Thai SIM cards for communication. The military junta, which seized power in a coup in 2021, has been silent in response to the KNU’s claims of successful surrenders at the military base in Thingannyinaung.
Reports also indicate that Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed readiness to accommodate up to 100,000 individuals fleeing Myanmar, as tensions continue to escalate along the 1,490-mile border that the two countries share. Myawaddy, situated on the Asia Highway connecting the Thai border to Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, has become a focal point in the conflict between the military and the KNU seeking autonomy for the Karen population.
In light of recent events, the Karen State Border Guard Force, a militia aligned with the military that governs much of Myawaddy, declared its autonomy from the junta, further complicating the political landscape in the region. As the situation unfolds, analysts predict that the military’s control in Karen state will continue to weaken, potentially altering the dynamics of the long-standing conflict in the area.
In the midst of uncertainty and unrest, the residents of Myawaddy and neighboring areas are left grappling with the turmoil of conflict and displacement. As tensions remain high and violence persists, the future remains uncertain for those caught in the crossfire of the escalating conflict between the KNU and the military junta in Myanmar.