Myanmar Roundup: Withdrawal of rebel group, vice-president resigns, airstrike near Indian border

Rebel group withdraw from Thai border

Myanmar rebel group, the Karen National Union (KNU), has withdrawn from the town of Myawaddy on the Thai border after a counteroffensive by the junta. A “temporary retreat” from the town of Myawaddy came after the return of junta soldiers to the vital strategic area that is a conduit for annual foreign trade of more than $1 billion”, a spokesperson of KNU told reporters. Fighting has caused thousands of civilians to flee, but many have since returned. The junta was able to enter the area with the help of a regional militia. Myanmar's junta is under pressure, having lost control of key frontier areas to rebel groups.

Resignation of vice-president

Myanmar Vice-President Henry Van Thio has resigned for health reasons, with no details about his health condition or replacement. He had previously served under the ousted National League for Democracy government and was spared by the junta after the 2021 coup. Van Thio, a former major in the Myanmar military, attended meetings infrequently due to health issues and was expelled from the NLD after attending a junta meeting. He is replaced by First Vice-President U Myint Swe, who currently serves as acting president for the junta.

Airstrike near India border kills civilians

Three civilians, including a child, were killed in an airstrike near the Indian border in the resistance-occupied town of Khampat in western Myanmar. A volunteer helping victims of the airstrike told reporters “Their hut was hit and the child died on the way to the hospital. The mother had her leg broken,” The town, strategically located on the border trade route, has been repeatedly targeted by the junta. The resistance forces have declared an emergency and the National Unity Government is preparing to install a civilian administration in Khampat. Additionally, junta troops have been torching and bombing villages in the area, forcing thousands of residents to abandon their homes.

173 Bangladeshis return home after prison sentence

A Bangladesh Navy ship returned 173 Bangladeshis who had served prison terms in Myanmar. A Myanmar delegation also arrived in Cox's Bazar City, southeast coast of Bangladesh to take custody of 285 Myanmar Army and Border Guard Police who had escaped violence in Myanmar. The returnees will be received by Border Guard Bangladesh and handed over to the police for verification and then to their relatives. Of the 173 returnees, 144 served full terms in prison and 29 are being pardoned.

Rainy season to flood camp for internally displaced

Hundreds of people in Myanmar's Pa Law Ta Moe camp for displaced persons are facing misery as the rainy season approaches. “I’m concerned about the coming rain. Where would I go? My hut is on the river bank,” a 70-year-old camp settler told Radio Free Asia. Many have been forced to flee their homes due to fighting and are now living in inadequate conditions with limited assistance. The Thai government has provided some aid, but questions remain about the effectiveness of the humanitarian efforts. The situation is further complicated by ongoing conflicts in the region, and there is a call for peaceful dialogue to resolve the crisis.