MAE SOT, Thailand — Burmese junta troops have retaken control of the border town of Myawaddy after a splinter group of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) launched an urban warfare offensive there on Monday, according to Burmese officials.
The siege of Myawaddy, opposite Mae Sot on the Thai-Burmese border, sent thousands of local residents fleeing into Thailand. According to the latest reports, most have since returned to Myawaddy, despite concerns that fighting could resume.
Sources in Myawaddy said that at least 800 regime troops, some in armored personnel carriers, took part in an overnight operation to oust the DKBA Brigade 5 rebels. They were supported by a newly formed border guard force consisting of former DKBA troops under the command of junta allies.
“Troops of the DKBA splinter group pulled out after government troops, supported by border guard forces, launched an operation on Monday night,” said a government official in Myawaddy, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But further attacks are expected in the coming days.”
He said about six people had been killed since Monday, with another 30 injured. He denied rumors circulating on Monday that 30 people had been killed in Myawaddy since the fighting started.
The official also added that DKBA Brigade 5, under the command of Col Saw Lah Pwe, continues to use rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers to attack Burmese troops in the town.
“They launched dozens of RPG attacks on Monday and Tuesday morning, some of them landing on Thai soil, and there have been at least three more since they were forced out of Myawaddy,” said the official.
Despite claims that Burmese troops are now firmly in control of the town, many local residents remain concerned about the security situation. On Tuesday morning, many were still crossing the Moei River into Thailand.
“People were hiding for their lives in Myawaddy last night,” said Phyu Phyu, a woman who fled the Burmese border town on Tuesday morning with her 3-year-old daughter. “Last night we were hiding at a monastery in the town, along with hundreds of other Myawaddy residents.”
According to some who had crossed the border this morning, Thai security forces were blocking newcomers after allowing around 20,000 refugees to enter the country on Monday.
“The Thais did not accept us, so we have to go back and take refuge at the monastery again,” said a man who crossed the river into Mae Sot at 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning and returned to Myawaddy at noon.
Although most of the refugees had reportedly returned to the town by Tuesday evening, there were also reports that many remain stranded on the Thai side of the river bank.
Meanwhile, sources said that DKBA Brigade 5 troops have also pulled out of Three Pagodas Pass and positioned themselves outside of the town. The Burmese army is still reinforcing its troops in Three Pagodas Pass, the sources said.
Around 10,000 residents of the town have crossed the border into Sangklaburi, in Thailand's Kanchanaburi Province. According to sources, two refugees were injured and later died after an RPG hit them on the Thai side of the border.
About 80 Buddhist monks in Three Pagodas Pass have requested that DKBA Battalion 907 stop fighting, saying more clashes with Burmese troops will only destroy property and harm lives. The monks stood guard over civilian property on Tuesday night to prevent looting.
irrawaddy
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