Thousands of Karen villagers living in the ring of Thanlwin NyeinChanYay Garden, Papun District, near the Thailand border, which is a controlled area of Karen National Union (KNU)’s Bridge (5), fled to Thailand following air strikes by the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military army).
The air strikes began on March 27, the 76th Anniversary of Armed Forces Day.
In the early morning of March 27, KNU troops seized the ThiMuuhtar military base of the Tatmadaw. By afternoon, the Tatmadaw retaliated with an airstrike, resulting in almost 10,000 villagers fleeing toThailand.
The incursion by the KNU resulted in 10 soldiers and one deputy battalion commander being killed and 8 soldiers were arrested as prisoners of war, according to a news post made by the KNU’s Bridge (5) – Mutaraw District.
Saw ThuBee, a spokesperson with the Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN) described the events, “Around 5 PM, on the Armed Forces Day, the Tatmadaw air force flew overhead and at about 7:30 PM, they started attacking. They also attacked again on the 28th. They shot the whole day. It’s not just at Daybuunoe village but other villages around it. On the 29th, they shot again, and one villager was killed and another villager injured. The attack on the 27th left 8 villagers seriously injured. I am not sure whether those villagers are still alive or dead now. I think there is little chance they would get much medical attention amid this fighting. All the villagers alongside the Thanlwin river here have fled to Thai side.”
According to the KNU Headquarters Info and News, 7 villages, including DayBuuNo, Thanayluu Taung Kon, KaloBawhtar, and MawYuu Ni were all hit by the air strike.
MRTV, the state media outlet issued this statement, “The [KNU’s] Bridge (5) broke the NCA accord and terminated the Tatmadaw base which was assigned for the protection of the border security in accordance with the NCA agreement. But this act has crossed the line, and in response, starting March 27, the Tatmadaw will do accordingly as it should.”
