IRIA News

Thailand’s military forces were put on high alert in the town of Mae Sot and its surrounding areas as the violent clashes between Myanmar’s junta administration and an ethnic armed group escalated. Hundreds of people lined up to enter Thailand amid the escalating violence.

Thai soldiers have been positioned beneath the friendship bridge that connects Mae Sot with the Myanmar trade hub of Myawaddy, while their counterparts from the Myanmar army are stationed across the sparse 200-meter stretch of dry riverbed that separates the two nations. Meanwhile, above the soldiers, hundreds of people crossed the friendship bridge, seeking refuge in the safety of the Thai kingdom.

On April 12, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Thailand’s Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara visited the border. During the unrest, troops from the Myanmar military regime were compelled to retreat after the actions of armed groups representing ethnic minorities, prompting hundreds of residents to flee the area.

“Thailand wants to see peace and dialogue,” Parnpree told reporters, adding that it was considering alternative trade routes in case of road closures caused by the fighting. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said he would review preparations for a further influx of people from Myanmar.

Thailand braces for Myanmar refugee influx

Earlier this week, Thailand announced its readiness to accommodate 100,000 individuals escaping from Myanmar. Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree said that the Thai government had made necessary preparations to accommodate an influx of refugees in safe areas temporarily. However, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin cautioned against the conflict encroaching into his country’s airspace.

The clashes between Myanmar’s military and armed groups representing ethnic minorities have intensified in Myawaddy this week, prompting an influx of people into Thailand. The sounds of artillery shells and gunfire from across the border were audible from Thai territory.

Additionally, Myanmar is grappling with escalating poverty levels as a devastating civil war plunges tens of millions further into destitution, according to a recent United Nations report. Almost half of the country’s 54 million population now lives below the poverty line, with 49.7% surviving on less than 76 US cents a day — marking a doubling of this figure since 2017. The report highlights the rapid deterioration of Myanmar’s economy since the military coup three years ago, with inflation soaring and families being forced to prioritize basic needs over food, health, and education.

Conflicts in Myanmar

Since last October, a coalition of opposition forces in Myanmar has dealt significant blows to the military seizing territory, and prompting surrenders and defections. This includes the recent capture of Myawaddy, a town situated on the border with Thailand, near the Thai town of Mae Sot where many aid groups operate. The military is facing fierce resistance from the Arakan Army, which has successfully captured key junta battalions and claimed control over important army bases and training schools in western Myanmar.

Following the coup in 2021, resistance forces opposing the junta and ethnic armed groups have engaged in battles against military forces to remove them from power. The military junta has escalated its brutality, launching attacks against the population of Myanmar. Ground battles, airstrikes, and raids by the junta on villages have resulted in the displacement of nearly three million people.

In recent weeks, anti-coup opposition groups have achieved notable victories against Myanmar’s military regime. Karen fighters and other rebel factions have captured a crucial town along the Thai border and attempted to launch drone attacks loaded with explosives on the capital, Naypyidaw.

With pressure mounting on various fronts, including defections and purported internal unrest within senior ranks, the Myanmar military government is witnessing an acceleration in its losses. The prospect of an endgame appears to be approaching faster than anticipated.