Dozens of Myanmar troopers fled into Thailand following a conflict with ethnic minority insurgents, a Thai commander informed Radio Free Asia Friday, the most recent spillover from more and more bitter combating in Myanmar.
The junta troops fled a base in Kayin State’s southern Myawaddy district following assaults from the anti-junta Karen Nationwide Liberation Military, or KNLA, and allied teams, the Thai officer stated.
“There have been 31 Myanmar troopers surrendering,” stated Ratchamanu Activity Pressure Commander Col. Nattakorn Reuntib, who is predicated in western Thailand’s Tak province, on the Myanmar border. “They have been disarmed, recognized, handled and are awaiting repatriation via the Thai-Myanmar border coordination heart.”
Some troops have been injured, he added. RFA couldn’t verify the place they have been being handled.
A KNLA soldier stated about 20 junta troopers have been killed when Karen fighters captured their Po Chi Mu camp.
”The camp has been captured. Forty-eight junta troops, together with officers, surrendered and about 20 have been discovered lifeless,” he stated, declining to be recognized for safety causes.
An official from the Karen insurgent drive, which has been battling for self-determination for many years, informed RFA that the junta troops escaping into Thailand had killed 4 civilians.
“The Thai military discovered the fleeing junta troopers close to Ohm Phyan village and arrested them,” he stated, additionally requesting anonymity for security causes.
“They killed three villagers and one other, a pregnant lady on her option to hospital, once they fled. They’re now being questioned by the Thai military … however we do not know what they’ll do with them,” stated the official, who declined to be recognized for safety causes.
Karen forces have been attacking the Po Chi Mu camp, reverse Thailand’s Umphang district, since Sunday and junta airstrikes within the space have pressured a whole lot to flee into Thailand, media reported.
Myanmar’s junta has been coming beneath strain in several components of the nation since anti-junta forces went on offensive late final yr.
Professional-democracy activists took up arms after the generals overthrew an elected authorities in early 2021, becoming a member of with ethnic minority insurgents to pose probably the most important problem to the army since shortly after the nation’s independence from Britain.
Junta forces fled into Thailand throughout combating in April with Karen forces over management of the principle border city of Myawaddy. The Thai authorities warned either side to not use Thai territory for any army benefit.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.