AFTER Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF) fighters almost fully seized Myawaddy town, oppositie Thailand’s Mae Sot town, with one Myanmar junta battalion holding out, the Karenni Army (KA) and their allies stepped up their attacks at two townships and Pha Song town opposite Mae Hong Son province’s Mueang district, Naewna newspaper said this morning (Apr. 9).
The heaviest fighting is taking place at Pa Song, where KA and their allies, Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) and PDF, have been attacking Myanmar junta’s main base in Kayah state at Pha Song bridge across Salween river for two months now.
They have not been successful so far because this base is located on high ground.
This morning KA and their allies dropped five 81mm grenades by drone on this camp, causing casualties. Since the start of the attack the junta forces at the base have suffered heavy casualties and as supply routes have been cut off it is expected that they will surrender soon.
Pa Song town is an important point for supply of goods from the Thai border to Kayah state capital Loikaw where two battalions of junta troops are stationed. However they do not move out and protect supply routes because they have to protect their base.
The Pa Song based junta forces had spotted a convoy of trucks going into the inner town and radioed for an airstrike, which when bombed it had in fact destroyed food being taken for internally displaced persons who have sheltered in various forests in this state and are among the most vulnerable people in the world.
There is also heavy fighting at two townships bordering Shan state to block reinforcements from entering Kayah state.
Thai security sources said they are monitoring the situation in Myawaddy town, across the border from Thailand’s Mae Sot town, which was almost entirely captured by Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF) fighters on Sunday (Apr. 7) with junta troops holding out at Battalion 275 base which is 5km from the border and close to the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge.
At 1 p.m. yesterday anti-junta forces were negotiating with the Myanmar junta and it remains to be seen whether troops at this base will surrender or not and if they do so what conditions would apply.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will be holding a meeting on the fighting across the border in Myanmar today with Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee, Army Chief Gen. Charoenchai Hinthao and advisers attending.
Srettha had confirmed that one passenger plane did land at Mae Sot airport at 10 p.m. on Sunday and then flew back to Myanmar with a proper request being made and only civilians sent back not soldiers or weapons.
However, sources said this plane carried cash back to Yangon.
Khit Thit Media news agency quoted sources at Myanmar capital Naypyidaw as saying that Myanmar National Airlines’ ATR 72-600 aircraft had landed at Mae Sot airport at 8.30 p.m. on Sunday and after that some private banks packed money in boxes and then took them to this airport via Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge.
The source could not say whether any Myanmar officials had flown back on this flight but confirmed that that plane brought back boxes full of money.
Srettha added that there has not been an influx into Thailand and that the government upholds human rights and is ensuring security along the border.
CAPTION:
Aerial view of fighting along the border in Myanmar. Photo: Naewna
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