‘Neutral’ Border Guard Force helped Myanmar military retake Myawaddy: KNU

The Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), which earlier this year declared itself neutral in the fight between the Myanmar military and anti-regime forces, helped the junta to retake control of Myawaddy, according to the Karen National Union (KNU). The KNU’s armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), and its allies captured the Karen State town on the Thai-Myanmar border earlier this month, but withdrew on Monday after fierce fighting over the weekend. The Karen BGF, which last month rebranded itself as the “Karen National Army” in a move seen as an attempt to further distance itself from the regime, was instrumental in its efforts to retake the town, according to KNU spokesperson Padoh Saw Taw Nee. “The BGF brought the Myanmar military troops back to the LIB 275 camp and hoisted the flag there,” he said, referring to a junta base west of the town that was abandoned after coming under attack in the second week of April. According to a resident of Myawaddy, the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 275 camp is now manned mainly by members of the Karen BGF, which has a total of around 5,000 troops. “I heard the camp is mostly run by the BGF now, with only a few Myanmar military forces stationed there,” he said, speaking to Myanmar Now on condition of anonymity. Another resident said that men with guns were patrolling the town, but it was unclear from their uniforms which armed force they belonged to. “It’s not unusual to see soldiers on patrol, but it’s strange that they don’t have badges on their shoulders,” he said. He added that the town has been quiet for the past three days, but described the situation as “surreal,” given that shelling was still taking place despite the air of normalcy. “We still can’t let down our guard, night or day,” he said, noting that several artillery shells were fired from the LIB 275 camp at around 5am on Thursday. Still fighting The Karen BGF is led by Col. Saw Chit Thu, a controversial figure whose Chit Lin Myaing Company owns a 20 percent stake in the notorious Shwe Kokko Special Economic Zone near Myawaddy. In December of last year, the US, UK, and Canadian governments targeted him and the company’s managing director, Saw Min Min Oo, for sanctions for their involvement in the Shwe Kokko project, which has been linked to illegal gambling and online fraud activities, as well as human trafficking. The project is 80 percent owned by Yatai International Holdings Group, a Chinese company whose president She Zhijiang is currently imprisoned in Thailand and facing extradition to China. Saw Chit Thu was unavailable for comment on the current situation in Myawaddy when contacted by Myanmar Now. Meanwhile, the KNU indicated that despite the withdrawal of its troops from the town, the fight was still far from over. “Our troops temporarily withdrew to avoid being drawn into the enemy’s trap, but we are determined to continue fighting to cut off [the junta’s] reinforcements,” said Padoh Saw Taw Nee. He noted that the KNLA and its allies still hold three other tactical hill camps near Thin Gan Nyi Naung, a village just west of Myawaddy that serves as a gateway to the town. Further west, in the Dawna Hills, the anti-regime forces have successfully repelled a 1,000-strong junta contingent dubbed the Aung Zeya column based in a village in Kawkareik Township. Thousands displaced Around 10,000 people are believed to have been displaced by the recent fighting in Myawaddy, including some 3,000 who fled across the border to Mae Sot in Thailand’s Tak Province. One man who was among those who took shelter in the town with his family said that the fighting was most intense last Saturday, the day they decided to flee. “There were airstrikes and shelling all over Myawaddy both day and night. That’s why we decided that we had to cross Bridge Number 1 to Mae Sot,” he said, referring to one of two “Friendship Bridges” linking the towns across the Moei (Thaungyin) River. “There was a fighter jet right over my house. That’s when we knew we had to make a run for it,” he added. On Wednesday, most of the refugees were sent back to the Myanmar side under an agreement between the Thai government and Myanmar junta authorities. However, many others who took shelter along the bank of the Moei River or in local monasteries in Myawaddy Township have yet to return to the town due to security concerns. “We’re still at a monastery because we’re unsure about the situation,” said a displaced man who did not want to be identified.

‘Neutral’ Border Guard Force helped Myanmar military retake Myawaddy: KNU

The Karen BGF, which earlier this year said it would not takes sides in the conflict between the regime and anti-junta forces, now appears to be in charge of the recaptured LIB 275 base

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