KNU Withdraws from Myawaddy After Junta Counteroffensive
An armed ethnic group in Myanmar, the Karen National Union (KNU), has withdrawn its troops from the town of Myawaddy along the Thai border. This follows a counteroffensive by the ruling junta, who had previously lost control of the key trading post to rebel fighters earlier this month.
The KNU spokesperson, Saw Taw Nee, described the withdrawal as a "temporary retreat." Junta soldiers have since returned to Myawaddy, a strategically vital area that facilitates over $1 billion in annual foreign trade.
Photographs circulating on pro-junta social media platforms show a small number of junta soldiers raising the Myanmar national flag at a military base previously controlled by the KNU. The rebel group had earlier hoisted its own banner at the base.
Saw Taw Nee stated that the KNU's armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), will continue to fight the junta and its allies in Myawaddy. However, he did not disclose the group's next move.
The counteroffensive to retake Myawaddy involved the assistance of the Karen National Army (KNA), a militia with a history of shifting allegiances. The KNA previously stood aside during the KNU's offensive, allowing the resistance to gain ground.
Fighting in Myawaddy continued as recently as Saturday, displacing 3,000 civilians in a single day. The KNU aimed to flush out remaining junta troops who were holed up at a border bridge crossing.
As of Wednesday, fighting had ceased in Myawaddy. A resident of the town confirmed this to Reuters, requesting anonymity due to security concerns.
Thailand's foreign ministry has expressed hope for the reopening of the border crossing with Myawaddy, as trade has been significantly impacted by the recent conflict. The ministry also reported that most civilians have returned to the town, with approximately 650 remaining displaced.
Thailand has received reports of potential talks between rival groups in Myanmar. The country has also proposed to Laos, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), that it could host a meeting aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.
The ruling junta in Myanmar faces its most significant challenge since taking control of the country in 1962. The military is embroiled in low-intensity conflicts and struggling to stabilize the economy, which has been severely impacted by the 2021 coup that ended a decade of democratic reforms. The junta has also lost control of several key border areas to rebel groups.