Mizzima
Fighting in the area of Kawkareik Township in Karen State has led to the closure of nearly all of the Asia Highway between Myawaddy on the Thai border and Kawkareik.
The Asia highway is the main transport route from the Thai border into Myanmar, but there are also other longer routes from Myawaddy into Myanmar that follow smaller, more minor roads. Currently, these are still open and can be used by locals and travelers.
A woman from Kawkareik said: “Roads between Kawkareik and Myawaddy are closed. Some are traveling from Htoekawkoe Town. Roads connecting from Kawkareik to Kyonedoe, Tharmanya, Hpa-an, and Eindu have not closed yet. We can still travel, but it takes more time.”
Fighting in the Kawkareik area began on 1 December when joint forces from the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) Brigade 6 attacked junta military camps in Kawkareik Township, which led to disruptions for vehicles trying to use the Asia Highway.
A local said: “The roads have been closed by both the junta and the joint forces. On 6 December, a battle took place at Ngartaing and Kyarpan Circular in Kawkareik. People were not allowed to enter the town.”
The Asia highway between Kawkareik and Myawaddy and Highway 85, the older, more minor mountain road from Kawkareik to Myawaddy, have been closed to all vehicles since 1 December and remained closed at the time of reporting, on 6 December.
There is also a possibility that the minor, longer back route to Myawaddy via Kyonedoe and Nabu, which can currently still be used, will also be closed to traffic, according to a local source.
A soldier from the Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council (KNU/KNLA PC) said: “We have opened the Htoekawkoe road and the Kyonedoe-Nabu small route. We have granted permission for travel within our territory, but the situation in the junta-controlled area remains uncertain.”
A merchant explained: “We are using small vehicles to transport goods from Htoekawkoe as much as possible since large ones cannot navigate the small route. It is challenging, but our challenges are not worse than those of the residents.
The transport restrictions have meant that people have become stranded Kawkareik. Some of the routes between Kawkareik and the Karen State capital of Hpa-An have reportedly also been blocked.
Residents are fleeing from urban areas and villages in Kawkareik Township. As of 6 December tens of thousands had already fled to Yangon, Hpa-An and Eindu.
