Rebels fighting the junta in Myanmar have claimed a significant victory by seizing the last remaining military base in the key border town of Myawaddy. The rebels, specifically the Karen resistance fighters, forced about 200 soldiers to abandon their base, pushing them towards the No 2. Friendship Bridge connecting Myanmar to Thailand.
The Karen National Union (KNU) spokesperson confirmed the rebels' control over Myawaddy, a town of strategic importance with a population of 200,000. The loss of this major trading point with Thailand poses a challenge for the military rulers.
Myawaddy serves as a vital border crossing for trade, facilitating the flow of commercial goods and food into Myanmar. Additionally, the town is known for housing billion-dollar online scam factories, where foreign nationals are reportedly subjected to modern-day slavery conditions.
The KNU, a powerful ethnic armed organization in Myanmar, successfully captured Battalion 275, the last military base in Myawaddy, following ongoing fighting and negotiations with the junta's troops. The resistance fighters plan to establish their own administration in the town.
Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar has been embroiled in a devastating civil war, with the junta resorting to brutal attacks to maintain control. The nationwide armed resistance movement, involving various ethnic rebel armies like the KNU, poses a significant challenge to the ruling military junta.
Residents in Myawaddy are concerned about potential airstrikes by the military, prompting some to send their families across the border to Thailand for safety. The Thai military has increased patrols along the border and prepared safe areas for affected civilians.
The fall of Myawaddy marks another defeat for the junta, which has been losing control of towns and territories across the country. Analysts view this development as a turning point, indicating the junta's inability to reverse its losses and regain strategic initiative.
