Resistance forces block off Tanintharyi Region roads on chance of fresh fighting

By Admin 17 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
17 July 2023, Dawei, Tanintharyi Region

The combined forces of anti-regime resistance groups and the Kaw Thoo Lei Army (KTLA) said in a statement on Monday that the Dawei-Hteekhee road section and the Htonkhar-Mawtaung road section, two important border trade routes in Tanintharyi Region, would be closed to traffic until further notice due to the possibility of fighting in the area.

The anti-junta groups said that if residents see any suspicious activity involving the military in these areas, they should report it to the local resistance forces.

“Fighting between the military and anti-regime forces has been increasing in the area. There are cases where junta soldiers hijack civilian cars and pretend to be civilians. This is the reason why the two road sections are closed to traffic,” said an official from the KTLA.

Many cargo trucks heading to the Thai border have had to be turned back to Dawei as the KTLA coalition has been conducting surprise checks on travellers and vehicles on the Dawei-Hteekhee road section since July 17.

“The resistance forces conducted checks on cargo trucks and forced them to turn back. The Dawei-Hteekhee road section is completely closed to traffic,” said a local merchant in Dawei.

The Htonkhar-Mawtaung road section in Tanintharyi Township is also temporarily closed, so most border-bound trucks are stuck in Tanintharyi and neighbouring townships, according to truck drivers.

Due to the closure of the border trade routes, the prices of Thai-made commodities — which the region is heavily dependent on — are expected to increase.

“If the closure of the two road sections to traffic continues for a long time, the price of Thai goods may rise,” confirmed a local merchant in Tanintharyi.

Last year, the Dawei-Hteekhee road was closed from April to mid-November due to fighting between the military and a coalition led by Brigade 4 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU). The road section was reopened to traffic in December.

The military and a coalition led by the KTLA blocked off the Htonkhar-Mawtaung road section from March to April of this year after clashes were reported between the two sides, but the road was reopened to traffic one month later.