YANGON, Myanmar: Myanmar’s military troops have pulled back from their positions in the trade hub of Myawaddy near the Thai border, according to a junta spokesman, confirming reports from the ethnic armed group, Karen National Union (KNU), with whom the military has been engaged in battle for several days.
The fighting in Myawaddy escalated earlier this week, prompting the KNU to report on Thursday that junta soldiers had vacated their posts. Around 200 junta troops withdrew from the town and sought refuge on a bridge linking Myawaddy to the Thai town of Mae Sot, as stated by KNU spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee to news agency.
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun acknowledged late Thursday that soldiers “had to withdraw” from their base due to safety concerns for their families. He mentioned ongoing negotiations between the junta and Thai authorities regarding the soldiers but did not provide specific details about their numbers.
He also noted that some KNU fighters had entered the town, without elaborating further. It is likely that the withdrawing soldiers retained their weapons, according to a KNU spokesman.
The situation reflects the ongoing turmoil in Myanmar following the military’s coup in 2021, which displaced a democratically elected government. The junta has faced significant challenges, particularly after suffering heavy losses in recent months.
In a separate incident in January, 276 Myanmar troops fled into India following clashes with an ethnic armed group in the western part of the country. A subsequent military plane dispatched to retrieve them encountered an accident, overshooting the runway and crashing, resulting in injuries to twelve individuals.
Efforts to reach the Thai government for comment on the latest developments are ongoing.
