Nearly 1,000 Junta Troops Deployed Near Dawei SEZ; Villagers Forced to Flee Amid Escalating Conflict

April 11, 2025

In Yebyu Township, Dawei District of Tanintharyi Region, local sources report that nearly 1,000 junta troops have been deployed around villages near the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ), forcing many residents to flee their homes in fear of clashes.

Since March 29, over 500 troops have entered Mudoo village, which is situated close to the SEZ. Another group of approximately 100 troops has also been stationed near Maungmagan. Residents in the area have reported the presence of two separate military columns in Mudoo, and many have already fled for their safety.

On March 31, another wave of troops entered the Zar Dee village tract. Local villagers from Zar Dee, Khaung Pyan, and Deik Takaw villages encountered around 400 junta soldiers. At least 12 women and elderly people who remained in the villages were reportedly arrested.

Due to fears of heavy fighting, residents from villages including Paya, Khway Ma Phaw, Zar Dee, Khaung Pyan, Deik Takaw, and Kha Rin Chaung have fled simultaneously. Thousands are now displaced, seeking refuge in safer areas.

According to residents, phone and internet services in the affected areas have been cut off by the Junta, making communication and access to information extremely difficult.

“As of April 6, the military is still stationed in our village and in the surrounding forests. We had no choice but to flee,” said a resident from Zar Dee.

Since the Junta signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia to restart the development of the Dawei SEZ, military presence and aerial surveillance in the area have intensified. Daily flyovers by junta aircraft have raised fears among villagers of possible airstrikes.

The military has reportedly reinforced SEZ camps with an additional 300 troops, bringing the total deployment in and around the Dawei SEZ area to nearly 1,000 soldiers, spread across at least five military columns.

Fighting already broke out near Lae Shaung village on March 24 and 25, resulting in casualties on both sides. Locals believe the troop build-up and offensives are part of the Junta’s broader strategy to tighten territorial control before restarting the SEZ project in cooperation with Russia. The sharp increase in military activities and pressure on civilians has only deepened fear and displacement in the region.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News