The Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union, is close to seizing control of Myawaddy town in Myanmar, a major trading post bordering Thailand. The guerrilla fighters have been successful in seizing or besieging strategic army outposts on the town’s outskirts. The occupation of Myawaddy would be a significant blow to the military government, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, which has already faced shock defeats in various regions since last October. The army has been under pressure and recently introduced conscription to boost its ranks.
The conflict in Myanmar escalated after the military government ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed nonviolent protests calling for a return to democratic rule. Residents of Myawaddy town have reported that they have not heard any sounds of fighting since Sunday afternoon. Many residents are continuing with their daily routines, while some are preparing to flee to Mae Sot in Thailand. The situation has prompted military and civil servants loyal to Myanmar’s military government to evacuate to Thailand, with permission from Thai authorities. Thailand has confirmed the approval of evacuation flights and is closely monitoring the border situation.
The Karen National Union, representing the Karen minority, announced that its armed wing and pro-democracy forces seized an army base on the road to Myawaddy at Thin Gan Nyi Naung. The group claimed that 617 security force members and their families surrendered, with weapons seized and captured individuals given shelter in a school. Karen guerrillas have surrounded an army garrison and an artillery battalion near Myawaddy and are engaged in negotiations for their surrenders. The Karen have control of a significant portion of Myawaddy township and are likely to capture the town itself after the bases surrender or are overrun.
The Karen, along with other ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, have long fought for greater autonomy from the central government. The conflict between the army and Karen armed groups intensified after the military seized power in 2021. Several ethnic rebel groups, including the Karen, have formed loose alliances with pro-democracy militias and provide refuge to civilian opponents of the military government. The situation in Myanmar remains unstable, with ongoing clashes between various armed groups and the military. The capture of Myawaddy town would represent a significant victory for the Karen National Liberation Army and further weaken the military government’s control in the region.
