Karens, allies mount attack on junta’s base in Myawaddy

AFTER talks between Karens and their allies and Myanmar junta’s Infantry Battalion 275 holding out at their last base in Myawaddy town, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sot town, failed to make headway for three days the former launched an attack on the latter’s stronghold last night, Naewna and Matichon newspapers said today (April 10).

Thai security sources said they are monitoring the situation in Myawaddy which was almost entirely captured by Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF) fighters supported by other Karen groups on Sunday (Apr. 7).

Myanmar junta troops are entrenched at Infantry Battalion 275 base which is 3km from the First Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, opposite Ban Rim Moei, Tha Sai Luat subdistrict, Mae Sot district.

Col. Natthakorn Ruentip, commander of Rachamanu Special Task Force, said that attack on this base has been continuing since morning with there being loud sounds of gunfire and clashes, including small arms, machine guns and explosions with smoke covering the battle zone.

Last night the anti-junta forces had surrounded this base and used drones to drop bombs. Myanmar junta soldiers used artillery, 120mm grenade launchers and airstrikes to defend their base all night triggering fire at various points around it.

The junta soldiers who had surrendered, estimated to be around 400, are being held in Shwe Kokko township in Myawaddy district which is under the control of KNU Commander Col. Maung Chithu.

Col. Natthakorn has ordered his troops to continuously patrol the Mae-Sot-Myawaddy stretch of Thai-Myanmar border to protect Thai sovereignty and take care of Thai people.

Most of Myanmar’s overland trade with Thailand passe through Myawaddy.

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Top and Front Page: Soldiers at Mae Sot-Myawaddy border. Photos: Matichon

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