Junta Tightens Inspections at Ma Hlwe Taung Checkpoint Amid Ongoing Clashes in Yebyu Township

August 20, 2025

HURFOM: Tensions remain high in Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region, as clashes continue between junta forces and the allied resistance groups of Mon, Karen, and Tanintharyi. In response, junta personnel have tightened inspections at the Ma Hlwe Taung checkpoint near Kaw Hlaing village, leaving travelers and local residents facing increasing restrictions and uncertainty.

According to residents, the fighting has intensified since July, with no fewer than five armed encounters along the Ma Hlwe Taung road in August alone. A local man from Yebyu Township, who frequently travels the route, explained:

“The inspections are much stricter than before. But people are still traveling between here and Ye as usual. If it’s just people, they let them pass. But if vehicles are carrying goods, they check them. If they want to confiscate the goods, they just do it, whether the items are restricted or not.”

Since late June, junta troops stationed at the checkpoint have been particularly focused on seizing rice, medicine, and other basic commodities. Residents said soldiers regularly confiscate supplies, worsening shortages for displaced villagers.

The situation has been further complicated as resistance forces also issue travel warnings. A Yebyu local told HURFOM:

“Around that road, resistance forces sometimes carry out checks, but not regularly. Usually, travel is fine. But after 6 p.m., no one can travel. There are frequent artillery shellings and clashes near Kaw Hlaing, so travelers need to be cautious.”

The ongoing conflict has forced residents from Kaw Hlaing, Mile 60, and Mayan Chaung villages to flee. After more than two months of displacement, families are struggling with a lack of food and shelter, according to local sources.

Meanwhile, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 27 announced on July 13 that vehicles traveling along the Mawlamyine–Ye–Dawei–Myeik Union Highway No. (8) would undergo strict inspections. The junta responded by further tightening its own security checks, compounding the hardships faced by civilians.

As fighting escalates and security measures intensify, ordinary people remain caught in the middle, facing both the dangers of armed conflict and the daily struggles of survival.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News