The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allies have seized the Junta's Pho Chi Mu camp, Junta's last stronghold on this stretch of Thailand-Myanmar border. This allows KNLA-led joint forces to establish nearly -complete control over this region ( neighbouring Tak Province), the Special Operation Force (SOF) announced on May 26.
KNLA, in collaboration with the drone unit of People's Defense Force (PDF), successfully severed supply and logistic routes leading to Pho Chi Mu camp, a major Junta stronghold situated in Kyaikdon town within Kyainseikgyi Township on the Thailand-Myanmar border near Mae Chan in Tak province, (much further south from the Myawaddy – Mae Sot frontier)
The KNLA and its allies seized control of the Junta's hill-based tactical command center in Kyaikdon on March 14, resulting in the surrender of 66 individuals, including the Junta's tactical commander.
On May 19, this joint effort resulted in the permanent takeover of the camp by KNLA and allied forces. During the operation to capture Pho Chi Mu camp, a total of 48 Junta troops were captured alive, more than 50 weapons were seized, over 20 Junta troops were killed, and 26 escaped into Thai territory, SOF announced.
The Pho Chi Mu camp, had served as a significant stronghold jointly operated by the Junta's 557th Infantry Battalion, 561st Light Infantry Battalion, and 399th Artillery Battalion. This takeover solidified KNLA and its allies' control over the border.
"Pho Chi Mu was the Junta's final border base, not just in Kyaikdon, but also spanning Kawkareik and Kyainseikgyi”, Ko Aung San Shar added.
However the Junta’s ally the BGF (Border Guard Forces) , maintains its own huge military base with its deployment of 5 battalions guarding the notorious nexus of cyber- scam criminal networks and casinos known as Shwe Kokko in Myawaddy district.
However BNI sources did not mention that the KNLA/KNU has no control over the Junta BGF forces who exercise considerable territorial control, including the strategic enclave around the vital road passage for Myanmar – Thai trade over two bridges crossing from Myawaddy to Mae Sot.
KNLA-led resistance forces took control of the Kwi Lon Tai border outpost in Kyaikdon on November 4, 2023. In mid-March of this year, they successfully captured the Yaethashauk and Mae Tharaw Hta camps, too.
Since May 18, over 90 Junta troops stationed at the last border base had fled, culminating in a skirmish at 9:20 am on May 19 between resistance forces, comprising KNLA and SOF, and the remaining Junta soldiers. After the confrontation, KNLA discovered the body of a Junta soldier within the camp premises, alongside the confiscation of an MA4 rifle and a communication device.
Following the initial skirmish, KNLA-led joint forces intensified their bombardments on the camp using drones and escalated ground offensives. On May 20, they apprehended 12 Junta troops along with their weaponry. Within two hours, 23 additional Junta soldiers, including deputy battalion commander Yan Aung and second-in-command Min Min Tun, surrendered to KNLA.
On May 21, during KNLA's follow-up area clearance operations, the corpse of another Junta soldier was discovered, while seven others were apprehended alive along with their armaments. Continuing their efforts, on May 22, KNLA operatives detained six more enemy troops, including two Junta sergeants.
In the midst of the conflict, the Junta employed a Mi35 Russian helicopter to carry out two indiscriminate airstrikes in the vicinity of the war zone, after which Junta troops withdrew and fatally shot a local man and a pregnant woman encountered on the road. A resistance fighter also sustained injuries during the skirmishes.
"The group of Junta soldiers responsible for the fatal shooting of the pregnant woman and her male companion had crossed into Thai territory. It's estimated there were over 20 soldiers in the group”, SOF commander Ko Aung San Shar said.
