Major Myanmar-Thai border trade route closed amid fighting

By Admin 07 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom
7 April 2023, Myawaddy, Kayin State

Ten resistance groups fighting the Myanmar military on Friday imposed a travel ban on the Asia Highway between Kawkareik and Myawaddy townships in Kayin State amid heavy fighting in the area. The travel ban is effective until April 21.

In their joint statement, the resistance groups said that the regime has been reinforcing and resupplying its troops using private vehicles along Myawaddy-Kawkareik road.

Some cargo trucks are using other routes to transport goods.

“Some were travelling the Htaw Ko Koe forest route this morning. Some cargo trucks are stuck between Hpa-an and Kyone Doe,” said a Yangon-Myawaddy cargo truck driver.

Cargo trucks heading from Yangon to the Myawaddy border town have turned back to Hpa-an, according to Kawkareik residents.

“I saw some cargo trucks turning back to Hpa-an until noon. Passenger buses are not yet travelling. They all are concerned about their safety,” a Kawkareik resident told DMG.

The streets are largely deserted in Myawaddy town, and local residents are concerned that the fighting may further intensify.

Since March 25, resistance forces and junta troops have been fighting along the Asia Highway between Kawkareik and Myawaddy.

Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied resistance forces attacked and occupied five bases of the junta-affiliated Border Guard Force in China-backed Shwe Kokko online gambling and scamming hub in Myawaddy on March 5.

More than 80 junta and BGF troops were killed in the fighting, one of the resistance groups, Lion Battalion, claimed and released a video as evidence. Details of the fighting will be reported later, the groups said.

Over 10,000 local residents from some 20 villages near Shwe Kokko have crossed the Moei River into Thailand, according to Ko Poe Thingyan, a volunteer helping displaced people in Myawaddy.

The Myawaddy-Kawkareik route is crucial for Myanmar’s border trade with Thailand.