11-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s military heightens security measures in Mae Sot, a border town adjacent to Myanmar, amidst ongoing clashes between anti-junta rebels and a beleaguered military suffering successive defeats in frontier regions.
Witnesses report the presence of Thai army vehicles, outfitted with mounted machine guns, patrolling the streets of Mae Sot. Meanwhile, the echoes of explosions and intense combat reverberate from across the border in Myawaddy.
Residents speak of tightened security measures, with Myanmar citizens sheltering in Mae Sot describing increased scrutiny by Thai soldiers near the border area.
According to two Thai military commanders speaking to local media, the conflict persists around Myawaddy, a crucial trading hub recently targeted by the Karen National Union (KNU) and allied anti-junta factions.
Last week, the KNU announced its forces’ successful assault on a junta camp near Myawaddy, resulting in the surrender of approximately 600 security personnel and their families. Despite Reuters’ attempts to reach junta spokespeople for comment, no response was received.
The latest wave of confrontations has led to the displacement of over 2,000 individuals within Myanmar, as reported by the Karen Peace Support Network, a civil society organization.
Since seizing power in a coup in 2021, Myanmar’s military has encountered significant resistance from a coalition of ethnic rebel groups and a burgeoning civilian militia. The junta’s control over border territories with Bangladesh, China, and India has dwindled, marking one of the most challenging periods for the military since its assumption of power in 1962.
Facing severe manpower shortages due to prolonged engagements, the military has resorted to pushing for a conscription law to replenish its ranks, underscoring the strain and vulnerabilities exposed by the sustained conflict.
