Security has been tightened at the Ma Hlwe Taung checkpoint in Yebyu Township as clashes between junta troops and joint resistance forces from Mon, Karen, and Tanintharyi groups intensify near Kaw Hlain village.
According to local sources, since July, fighting between the two sides has erupted repeatedly, with at least five clashes reported along Ma Hlwe Taung road in August alone. In response, junta forces have reinforced security and increased inspections of passenger vehicles and cargo trucks.
“Inspections are now much stricter than before,” a local traveler said. “People can still move around, but vehicles carrying goods are thoroughly searched. If the soldiers want to seize something, they simply take it—even if it’s not on the restricted list.”
Residents report that since late June, the junta imposed strict checks on basic commodities such as rice and medicine at the checkpoint, confiscating restricted goods when found.
Fierce clashes continue near Kaw Hlain village as junta columns engage resistance forces. Resistance groups have urged travelers to exercise caution along the Ye–Dawei road, warning that movement after 6 p.m. is unsafe due to frequent artillery shelling and skirmishes.
Heavy artillery fire from junta troops has also forced villagers from Kaw Hlain, Mile 60, and Mayan Chaung to flee their homes. Locals say displaced families, many of whom have been on the move for more than two months, are facing shortages of food and shelter.
Earlier, on July 13th, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Battalion 27 announced that vehicles traveling along the Mawlamyine–Ye–Dawei–Myeik Union Highway (Route 8) would also be subject to strict checks. Residents believe the junta’s increased inspections may be a direct response to that announcement.
