Myanmar rebel group withdraws from a key city near the Thai border – The Organization for World Peace

On April 24, 2024, an armed ethnic group called the Karen National Union (KNU) withdrew its forces after a violent counterattack by the junta, which successfully regained control of a key trading post, Myawaddy. This city serves as a conduit for more than $1 billion in foreign aid. The rebel group, the Karen National Union, had taken control of Myawaddy earlier in April. The juntas were able to counterattack the Karen National Union thanks to the help of the regional militia that had previously withdrawn and allowed the Karen National Union to take Mywaddy.

Myanmar remains embroiled in a civil war between the military and the weak coalition of long-standing ethnic minority armies, alongside a resistance movement that emerged in response to the ruling junta’s violent dissent following the coup on February 1, 2021. According to an article published by Reuters: “Fighting flared up in Myawaddy on Saturday, forcing 3,000 civilians to flee in one day.” Fortunately, on April 25, 2024, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the fighting had subsided and that Thailand wanted to reopen its borders, now that the majority of citizens have returned. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Nikorndej has “returned most of the refugees and this reflects that the situation is not becoming more violent”, which is a positive achievement.

The conflict between the military juntas and the KNU is constantly changing as both forces experienced victories and losses. The junta’s counterattack on April 24, 2024 was unnecessarily violent and caused significant unrest in Myawaddy, harming civilians and endangering their lives. The situation in Myawaddy is very uncertain, and although displaced civilians have returned, the Thai Foreign Ministry says the political unrest in Myanmar should be closely monitored. It would be very beneficial for both the juntas and the rebel groups if they reached a peaceful solution, instead of displacing civilians and failing to address Myanmar’s devastated economy. Thailand recently presented an impressive peace initiative to Laos, chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, urging them to organize a meeting to resolve the crisis unfolding in Myanmar.

Following the junta’s counter-offensive, their troops raised their flag a few days earlier at a military base previously controlled by the KNU, replacing the rebel flag that flew there. Myanmar’s current military regime is facing its biggest obstacle since it came to power in 1962. As a result of a military coup on February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s economy is in ruins. The 2021 military coup began after tensions between the military and civilians escalated following Myanmar’s November 2020 elections and has resulted in the undoing of a decade of reforms and the gradual emergence of democracy. Myanmar has witnessed many strong rebel groups challenging the various military juntas. Notable among these are the Shan State Army, which represents the Shan ethnic minority, and the Kachin Independence Army, which was founded in the 1960s and has since risen against the junta to achieve basic rights for their ethnic groups. Since February 2021, the military junta has been able to maintain its grip on power and maintain strict control over Myanmar’s politics. However, the juntas have recently lost control of many key areas to rebel groups such as the KNU.

Laos and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should accept Thailand’s proposed peace plan and help them end the conflict in Myanmar before it causes more refugees and violence and further damages the economy. Political instability in Myanmar in recent years has led to Myanmar declaring a state of emergency in 2021, which is significant and should be avoided in the future. Since beginning their resistance on October 27, 2024, Myanmar’s rebels have made notable gains in both territory and power, and are now in control of most of Myanmar’s borders. The military’s grip on power is gradually weakening as they hand over control of more and more areas to the rebels. This trend could potentially pave the way for the resolution of the conflict and the eventual restoration of peace in society, which is the ultimate goal.