Intense Clashes Displace Thousands Along Thanbyuzayat to Three Pagodas Pass Road

November 12, 2024

#Thanbyuzayat #Mon

HURFOM: According to local sources, armed clashes along the Thanbyuzayat to Three Pagodas Pass highway, which links Mon State and Karen State, have intensified, displacing thousands of residents. As of today, many villagers who fled remain unable to return home due to the ongoing violence.

The clashes reportedly began on November 5, initially displacing over 4,000 people from their homes. Since then, the number of individuals fleeing the conflict has continued to rise as fighting escalates.

Heavy fighting between the Multi-Peoples’ Armed Forces and junta troops has led to mass evacuations from villages along the highway, including Yae Tagon, Zee Hnapin, and Ukhway-DawYein. On November 8, junta forces issued an evacuation order for several villages, forcing residents to flee en masse.

“Every day, there are clashes near Zee Hnapin and Payawhal villages. Today, nearly a thousand people are sheltering near Yae Tagon and other areas along the main road, seeking safety from the violence. These villagers live in constant fear as artillery shells continue to rain down on their communities,” reported a local resident.

For months, villagers along the Thanbyuzayat to Three Pagodas Pass highway have faced repeated displacement due to the military conflict. In August, the KNU’s armed wing, the KNLA, along with allied forces, launched an attack on the junta’s Anankwin Tactical Command Base under the Moattama-based Southeast Command. These attacks have intensified, with recent reports indicating that junta troops remain active in Payawhal and Yae Tagon villages, firing indiscriminately from their Waekali-based artillery positions.

An anonymous source close to the resistance forces noted, “There are still junta troops trapped in Payawhal, while reinforcements from the Waekali base continue to launch heavy artillery. We expect clashes to continue, as junta forces are strengthening their presence in these areas.”

The junta has responded with sustained attacks, using both heavy artillery and airstrikes, including drones. Local reports indicate that the military has also cut off phone and internet access in the conflict zones to limit communication.

Since November 4, military reinforcements from Yay have reportedly been dispatched along the Ye-Thanbyuzayat road to bolster the junta’s position at the Anankwin Tactical Command Base. As a result, local residents fear for their safety, avoiding travel along the road and remaining close to safe areas.

“People are afraid to travel on the Thanbyuzayat to Ye road due to the intense fighting and constant reinforcement of troops from the direction of Yay,” a resident of Mawkanin shared.

The Thanbyuzayat to Three Pagodas Pass highway, a vital trade route between Thailand and Myanmar, has been heavily contested in recent weeks. In previous months, Karen resistance forces captured the junta’s tactical positions along the route. Currently, they are focused on taking control of the Anankwin Tactical Command Base, which remains a central point of conflict.

As violence escalates, communities along this strategic highway face prolonged displacement and insecurity, with little indication of an end to the fighting. HURFOM continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they become available.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News