Karen National Union Raises Concerns Over Junta Troops Advancing Towards Myawaddy
PUBLISHED: 5 Oct 2024 at 15:40
In a significant development, the Karen National Union (KNU), a key rebel group opposing the Myanmar military, has maintained its year-long blockade of the Asian Highway leading to Myawaddy on the Thai border. The KNU has expressed concerns that reopening the road could facilitate military advances by junta forces.
Leaders from the KNU and other ethnic Karen armed factions, some of which align with the military junta, convened in late September to deliberate on the potential reopening of the highway. Both the Myanmar military and the Thai government have urged for the road to be reopened to improve transport and reduce the cost of essential goods.
The Asian Highway connects Myawaddy, directly across from Thailand’s Mae Sot district, to Tamu in the Sagaing region along the Myanmar-India border. A crucial segment from Kawkareik to Myawaddy has been closed since the KNU and its allies engaged in military action in Kawkareik last December.
Reports indicate the junta in Nay Pyi Taw is pressuring its allies, including the Border Guard Force led by warlord Saw Chit Thu, to negotiate with the KNU regarding the road’s status. Various groups allied with the junta, such as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and the Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council, have been participating in discussions with the military since the coup in 2021.
Despite calls from Saw Chit Thu to reopen the highway, KNU Brigade 6 has repeatedly rejected such proposals, citing security concerns regarding a potential military offensive in Myawaddy.
Recent clashes along the highway were reported in late September as junta forces remained active in the area. Civilians and transport companies are currently forced to navigate detours via poorly maintained alternative routes, incurring additional toll fees imposed by various militia groups.
Altogether, there are approximately 40 checkpoints operated by armed factions along the alternative routes, as noted in reports, with nearly 1,000 vehicles traversing these paths daily, benefitting armed groups from the tolls collected.
