The situation in Myawaddy, a key border town in Myanmar, has been deteriorating as anticoup forces intensify their assault against the military junta that seized power in a 2021 coup. About 200 Myanmar soldiers have withdrawn to the Friendship Bridge connecting Myawaddy to Thailand, signaling the growing pressure facing the generals. The ethnic armed group Karen National Union (KNU) claimed victory over the remaining major military force in the town, forcing soldiers to retreat to the bridge. Thai authorities are reportedly in talks with the soldiers to decide on their fate.
The escalating conflict in Myawaddy is part of a broader uprising against the military rule following an October offensive by ethnic armed groups. The military has lost control of numerous military posts and towns in border areas, leading to the displacement of thousands of people. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the military of forcibly recruiting Rohingya Muslim men and boys, a group that has long been marginalized and denied citizenship in Myanmar.
The state-run media in Myanmar has not reported on the ongoing conflict, instead focusing on showcasing new military recruits. HRW has called on the junta to end forced recruitment and allow unlawfully conscripted Rohingya individuals to return home. The pressure on the generals is mounting both domestically and internationally, as the unrest in Myawaddy adds to the challenges facing the military junta in Myanmar.
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