Mizzima

Thousands of villagers are fleeing villages near Shwe Kokko in Karen State near the Thai border as the military use assault helicopters in clashes between its affiliated border guard troops and local guerilla forces.

The armed conflicts occurred in Hteekawhtaw and Thetkaya villages when the KNLA joint forces and PDFs carried out attacks on the pro-military Karen Border Guard Force (BGF). 

“In the morning, we heard gunfire. Also, we discovered damage at BGF Gate No. (1) and other locations. The BGF and the military apparently suffered serious injuries,” said a local source on 5 April.

Around 12:30 pm, the military used Mi-35 helicopters to carry out attacks in Mekanel, and Thingan Nyi Naung areas near Shwe Kokko. 

"They fired simultaneously in several areas. Junta soldiers were surrounded by resistance forces in Mekanel village. They were rescued by the helicopters,” a member of a PDF said.
  
Locals from the area of Shwe Kokko have had to flee from their villages to the Thai border by crossing the Moei River.

"We fled from the battle on 5 April morning. We are currently living on a sandbank of the Moei river. The artillery shells dropped into our villages. The junta soldiers carried aerial attacks on our villages. Everyone has fled from homes. We heard that two civilians were injured. The casualties have not yet been confirmed. All the roads are closing now,” a local from Shwe Kokko said.

Armed clashes have been escalating in Myawaddy, Thingan Nyi Naung, Kawkareik, Kyondoe, Ngartaing, Kyainseikgyi, and Payathonzu areas in Karen or Kayin State since March 2023.

However, the ongoing fight is the first time in Shwe Kokko which is home to the headquarters of Kayin State Border Guard Force (BGF). It has become a hub of illegal gambling, human trafficking, extortion and cyber scam operations due to the difficult access of the Union government to the remote area. 

The BGF has also allowed investment of Chinese-led development projects in Shwe Kokko.