The Myanmar junta is reinforcing its troops in Myawaddy Township in Karen or Kayin State, bordering Thailand.

Residents say that the military assume that forces of the Karen National Union (KNU) and the People Defence’s Forces (PDF) will launch major attacks on the townships along the Asia Highway.

In the guise of the Border Guard Force (BGF), the Miliary Council is strengthening its arsenal at outposts and police stations in the Thingangyun and Myawaddy townships.

“More troops are being stationed by the military at strategic points, police stations, outposts in the Thingannyinaung trade zone, government offices and the police station of Ward 4 in Myawaddy Township. The miliary troops are stationed with BGF uniforms. They likely assume that the resistance forces will attack those areas”, a source close to the Military Council told Mizzima.

Moreover, the military and the BGF forces are inspecting at the No. 1 Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and in Myawaddy Township.

A resident of Myawaddy said, “Soldiers, police and BGF are carrying out inspections. They also asked travelers who came from Kawkareik Township about PDF [activity].”

Some residents fear that the military’s reinforcements will lead to armed clashes in the area.

Prior to 2 November, the resistance forces conducted ground attacks and drone attacks on the military’s outposts and police stations in Kawkareik and Kyainseikkyi townships, and some buildings were destroyed, according to local sources.

In addition, joint resistance forces have recently reported attacking military outposts near Chaunghnakhwa Bridge, a police station and military camps in Kyaikmaraw Township near the border between Karen and Mon states over a period of three days.