Resistance forces in Myanmar have made a significant gain in their fight against the military regime, capturing the key trade town of Myawaddy on the Thai border. This victory marks one of the most important successes for the rebels since the junta seized power in a coup over three years ago.
Myawaddy, a bustling hub for imports and exports with $1 billion in trade last year, is now under the control of rebels from the Karen ethnic group. This strategic town’s fall comes as resistance forces have taken over numerous towns and military outposts in border regions near China and Bangladesh. Additionally, rebel groups have launched drones that targeted the capital, Naypyidaw, and military bases during visits by top junta generals.
Anthony Davis, a security analyst based in Bangkok, described the capture of Myawaddy as “huge,” emphasizing the town’s importance as Myanmar’s gateway to mainland Southeast Asia. The regime’s spokesman, Gen. Zaw Min Tun, confirmed that junta troops had evacuated their main base in Myawaddy, with resistance groups now present in the town.
However, as the regime prepares for a counteroffensive, thousands of residents are fleeing the town, seeking safety in the Thai town of Mae Sot. Thai officials have announced plans to accommodate up to 100,000 refugees, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
The conflict in Myanmar has escalated since the 2021 coup, with armed ethnic groups and pro-democracy rebels forming a broad alliance against the junta. The regime’s recent losses have exposed its vulnerabilities, prompting the enforcement of a decades-old conscription law in February.
U Kyaw Zaw, a spokesman for the National Unity Government, noted that the junta’s loss of Myawaddy represents a significant financial setback and a blow to its morale. Security analyst Anthony Davis predicted that the regime’s upcoming counteroffensive could be its largest since the coup, as the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military, mobilizes its resources to recapture the town.
The Thai government has expressed concerns about the conflict disrupting trade with Myanmar and potential violence spilling over the border. Thailand’s foreign minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, stated that Thailand could mediate the conflict and urged the junta to refrain from attacking Myawaddy.
As residents and regime soldiers navigate the aftermath of the battle, the situation in Myawaddy remains tense. With rebels in control of the town, businesses closed, and junta forces absent from the streets, the future of this key trade hub hangs in the balance.
