Over 500 civilians and military personnel from Myanmar have fled across the border to Thailand following an attack by ethnic rebels on a military base. The Thai army reported that the exodus occurred on Saturday after an assault on a junta base in Kayin State, northwestern Myanmar.
Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war since the 2021 military coup, with the ruling junta facing opposition from various ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy resistance fighters.
According to a statement from the Thai army, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) launched an attack on a military base in Kayin State at around 3:00 PM local time on Saturday.
Myanmar soldiers attempted to resist and requested ammunition support from authorities, but they were ultimately unable to hold their position,” the statement said.
Thai authorities reported that over 100 Myanmar soldiers and 467 civilians crossed the border into Thailand on Saturday. The Thai military and police disarmed the Myanmar soldiers and provided them with medical treatment and humanitarian aid.
Thailand has increased surveillance along its western Tak province, which borders Myanmar, to prevent any violation of sovereignty by foreign armed forces, according to Thai officials.
Saw Thamein Tun, a leader of the KNLA’s political wing, stated that clashes occurred with junta soldiers near the Thailand border, and joint forces seized some frontline military outposts.
“Some Myanmar soldiers have joined our joint forces, while others have fled to Thailand,” he said.
Ethnic Karen armed groups have been fighting the Myanmar military for decades and are currently playing a significant role in resisting junta control in border areas.
Myanmar’s prolonged civil war has displaced millions of people. According to the United Nations, approximately 81,000 refugees or asylum seekers from Myanmar are currently residing in Thailand.
The KNLA has been fighting for greater autonomy for the Karen people in Myanmar’s southeastern region for decades.
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