Weekly Analysis: Forced Displacement Surges in the Tanitharyi Region

August 25, 2025

The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) expresses concern over the increase in violence in the Tanintharyi Region, which has caused more displacement. Those most affected are vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly, who urgently need support. Attacks by the military junta have instilled fear and uncertainty, as communities fleeing are unsure when or if they will be able to safely return home.

Over 3,000 residents from Saw Phya and nearby villages in Thayet Chaung Township, Tanintharyi Region, have been forced to flee their homes after intense clashes between junta forces and allied resistance groups. Displaced families are now urgently seeking food, shelter, and medicine as their situation becomes increasingly critical.

At 11 AM on August 19, heavy fighting erupted near Saw Phya village and continued for nearly four hours until 3 PM. Villagers from Saw Phya, Moe Ywe Kone, Kin Shay, and Kyauk Hlay Kar fled in large numbers to seek safety. The number of casualties from both sides remains unconfirmed.

“Even before this, the junta had restricted the transport of rice, food, fuel, and medicines into this area, so there were already shortages. Now, with these armed clashes intensifying, the situation has worsened. Many IDPs are surviving only on rice porridge. Cases of children and elderly people falling ill are increasing. We are appealing for humanitarian aid as quickly as possible through any available support,” said a group of local youths assisting displaced villagers.

Since the beginning of August, junta troops have intensified their operations in Thayet Chaung Township, sparking repeated clashes with resistance forces. On August 14, fighting near Uttu village resulted in junta soldiers reportedly burning at least five civilian homes. Local residents said the military also destroyed livelihoods, deepening the suffering of already vulnerable communities. Families who fled remain displaced with little access to essential supplies. As conflict spreads and restrictions on aid tighten, the needs of these civilians grow more urgent by the day.

A recent report by FE 5 Tanintharyi found in their documentation that the violence and attacks, including airstrikes and artillery firing by the junta, led to junta airstrikes more than tripling in July, rising to 25 from just 8 in June. According to FE 5 Tanintharyi, the number of internally displaced persons in the region is now 82,800.

Overview of Main Cases

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

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.

• More than 30 Young Men Arrested for Military Conscription in Bilin, Mon State

The Mon State junta has arrested more than 30 young men along the Bilin – Taung Zune Motorway in Bilin Township, Mon State, and forced them into military training as conscripts. In its desperate bid to replenish dwindling troop numbers, junta forces have been targeting civilians in the area.

According to local sources, soldiers frequently patrol the road and carry out sudden arrests, particularly in the evenings when young men are returning home from work.

“They move around with a mobile team. The arrests are not at one fixed location. Sometimes, they even beat those they capture,” explained a villager from Taung Zune.

Those detained are mostly between the ages of 20 and 30, making them eligible under the junta’s forced conscription law. Families of the arrested young men have since lost contact with their loved ones, who have been taken away without notice or due process.

• Junta Forces Extort Travelers and Drivers at Security Gates on Ye–Dawei Highway

Since July 2025, junta personnel stationed at checkpoints on the Ye–Dawei Highway have been extorting money from travelers and drivers. Two gates in particular – the “Da Dar Phyu” Security Gate in Ye Township, Mon State, and the “Ma Hwelve Taung” Security Gate in Dawei Township, Tanintharyi Region – are demanding payments ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 MMK, leaving civilians with additional financial burdens.