The Interim Executive Council (IEC) of Karenni State has confirmed that some military detainees who escaped from a prison in Mese Township, Karenni State, were shot during recapture operations, resulting in fatalities.
According to IEC, the escaped military prisoners—who were members of the military junta—fled the prison carrying approximately nine weapons. As a result, IEC forces opened fire while pursuing them and managed to recapture around 10 detainees.
IEC Joint Secretary U Banyar said, “When they escaped from the prison, some of them took weapons with them. As our forces conducted search operations, there were instances where they had to open fire to gain the upper hand. In some areas, our forces reported exchanges of gunfire. At this point, we have managed to recapture about 10 individuals, but the exact number is still being verified.”
He added that IEC has not yet received confirmed information from field units regarding the exact number of deaths or injuries resulting from the shootings.
The escape occurred shortly after midnight on January 1, when approximately 80 military detainees—soldiers of the military council—fled from the IEC-run prison.
“We have also seen reports in the news, and we can confirm them. There are reports saying that they fled to Thailand and surrendered there. We understand that this incident was carefully coordinated between some individuals on the Thai side and the prisoners. Investigations are still ongoing,” U Banyar said.
Mese Township, where the detainees had been held, lies close to the border with Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Province. Thai PBS reported that around 30 detainees crossed into Thailand after escaping.
Karenni resistance forces fully captured Mese Township in early November 2023. The escaped detainees were reportedly soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 66 under the Myanmar military.
