Residents of Myawaddy, Myanmar fled to neighboring Thailand on Tuesday as explosions and gunfire echoed in the trade hub. The exodus followed the seizure of a key military base by the Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic minority armed group. The KNU claimed to have taken control of the military base located 10 kilometers west of Myawaddy, prompting over 600 soldiers, police, and their families to surrender.
Local residents reported hearing the sounds of gunfire and explosions, leading many to flee, especially those living near the police station. Concerns for safety were prevalent, with one resident noting the presence of planes flying overhead. Despite the ongoing unrest, the bridge connecting Myawaddy to the Thai town of Mae Sot remained open, indicating that the KNU fighters had not breached the town.
In the midst of the chaos, Myanmar’s mobile phone services were down, compelling residents to use Thai SIM cards for communication. The junta had yet to comment on the KNU’s claim of surrenders at the seized base. Amid the escalating tensions, a resident fleeing Thingannyinaung recounted previous clashes and the influx of internally displaced people seeking refuge along the Thai border.
As the situation unfolded, Thailand’s foreign minister expressed readiness to accommodate up to 100,000 individuals fleeing Myanmar. The country shares a lengthy border with Myanmar, which has been mired in civil conflict since the military coup in 2021. Myawaddy’s strategic location on the Asia Highway, linking Thailand to Yangon, has made it a critical point in the unrest.
The ongoing clashes in Karen state between the military and the KNU, vying for autonomy for the Karen population, underscored the longstanding tensions in the region. Since the coup, the KNU had provided refuge to anti-junta activists and trained forces opposing the military rule. The disruption in trade flow through Myawaddy raised concerns about the economic impact on the region, as the Karen State Border Guard Force distanced itself from the junta.
Analysts viewed the rift within the local military-aligned militia as a setback for the military’s control in Karen state. With the situation fluid and tensions escalating, the exodus of residents from Myawaddy to Thailand highlighted the profound impact of the conflict on the border region. The uncertainty and volatility in Myanmar reverberated beyond its borders, drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the wake of the military coup.