Karenni resistance forces have called off the search for inmates who escaped from a Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) prison in Karenni (Kayah) State nearly two weeks ago, according to IEC Secretary 2 Banyar Khun Aung.
With assistance from two prison guards, more than 80 prisoners escaped IEC Prison 2 in resistance-held Mese Township at around 1am on January 18, stealing nine firearms and fleeing towards the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Resistance forces based in the state pursued the escapees to recapture them, but the search ended just over a week after the escape took place, according to Banyar Khun Aung.
“We already have instructions not to conduct any operations crossing into Thai territory. We estimate that they had already reached the Thai side in a day or two,” he explained.
The IEC said that Karenni resistance forces had recaptured ten of the prisoners of war, but the number who reached the border with Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province could be over 70.
Telegram posts from users on pro-junta propaganda channels claimed on Tuesday that Thai authorities had transferred the Mese prison escapees to the custody of Myanmar’s military authorities, showing photos that seemed to confirm the handover.
Citing sources at the border, the local Karenni State outlet Katarawaddy Times also reported that 68 escaped prisoners of war were delivered back to Myanmar by Thai authorities on Monday via the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge 2, which connects Mae Sot in Thailand’s Tak Province with Myawaddy, Karen (Kayin) State.
A lapse in the IEC’s security measures had allowed the prisoner escape, according to Banyar Khun Aung, who also said the prisoners had taken advantage of the IEC’s adherence to international standards in its treatment of prisoners of war.
“We kept things quite open. We allowed access for international media. As we implemented international standards as faithfully as possible, there were attempts by prisoners to take advantage of these standards to escape,” he said. “There were plans for escape contrived by the military council’s informants. It was not a simple prison break.”
There has been at least one other recent escape by prisoners of war before in Mese Township. Six prisoners fled in October of last year while on their way to a worksite and have not been recaptured since.
Escapes by anti-junta forces’ detainees have occurred repeatedly around the country.
As reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA) news, around 90 prisoners of war escaped from the custody of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army—or Kokang army—in Lashio, northern Shan State in October 2024. While the Kokang forces ultimately recaptured 40 of the escapees, more than 50 got away, according to RFA.
Resistance forces continue to exercise full control over Mese and Shadaw townships in Karenni State. The junta has regained control of urban areas in Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, and Bawlakhe townships.
