‘Afraid to sleep at home’: Myanmar civilians flee to Thai border as conflict intensifies
Almost daily bombings and shootings have left many Myawaddy residents uncertain about their future.
Residents cross the Moei River, which separates Myanmar and Thailand, as violence continues to flare in the town of Myawaddy.
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MAE SOT, Thailand: Ms Phone Myat Maw is sweaty, tired and worried, pacing up and down the banks of the Moei River.
The 20-year-old is heavily pregnant and due to deliver her first child any day now.
But instead of preparing for labour at home or in a hospital, the Myanmar citizen is homeless and living along the riverbank in the town of Myawaddy, just across Thailand.
Her family had to flee their village when the Myanmar military regime conducted air strikes on Myawaddy during clashes with armed resistance forces.
“While I am running, I am concerned about the delivery as there are no nurses and the hospitals are closed down,” she said.
Her husband, a former construction worker, had lost his job when work stopped amid the conflict.
“We are afraid to sleep in our home and so we live on the riverbank and spend our nights here. We go back and check on our home from time to time,” the 25-year-old, who goes by the name Shine, told CNA.
“When the fighting breaks out again, maybe the Thais can help us. I would feel safer here (on the Thai side of the border) as Myanmar is not that safe.”
They are one of many families that have made the river, which separates Myanmar and Thailand, their temporary home.
Many feel trapped and helpless – some are unable to cross into Thailand by official means as they do not have proper documents, but they cannot stay in Myawaddy because it is not safe.
Some parts of the river are narrow and shallow, and residents can easily wade across with water levels just up to their shins or thighs.
Since the anti-junta resistance wrested the strategically vital town from Myanmar government troops two weeks ago, the conflict has intensified.
Almost daily bombings and shootings as soldiers launched a counteroffensive to retake the town have left many residents uncertain about their future.
On Wednesday (Apr 24), the Karen National Union (KNU) – the rebel group which led the assault on Myawaddy – said it made a "temporary retreat" from the town.
Although the fighting has eased, Thailand said it is closely monitoring the situation along its border, which government spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said is “highly uncertain and can change”.
FLEEING MYANMAR CIVILIANS
The spillover effects from Myanmar's political crisis has prompted Thailand to set up an inter-agency committee to monitor the developments and prepare initiatives to handle any problems.
Thai authorities are also putting in place measures to deal with Myanmar civilians fleeing across the border, should clashes intensify.
At least 3,000 Myanmar citizens have sought refuge in Thailand’s Mae Sot border town in the past two weeks. While many have returned home, some have chosen to stay behind as they are still concerned about their safety.
The committee, led by Thai deputy prime minister and foreign minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, along with two other key ministers, visited Mae Sot on Tuesday.
Deputy prime minister and interior minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that Thailand is willing to provide humanitarian support to those fleeing from violence.
“For Thai cities that share the border with (Myanmar), we will have to prepare for if something (goes) wrong on the other side,” he told CNA during the visit.
“If our friends from our neighbouring country (Myanmar) come in to seek safety, we will have to look after them and this is not extra work. We will at least provide safety for our friends first, and deal with other things later.”
BORDER SECURITY
Meanwhile, Thailand is also working to reassure its own citizens that the nation has stepped up border security and will protect its people and sovereignty.
This comes as stray bullets flew into the homes of some Mae Sot residents.
At Thai merchant Busayamas Pukhampan's home, a bullet from Myawaddy was fired into the room where her 72-year-old father sleeps. Luckily, no one was hurt.
“I was lucky the bullet didn’t hit my family members. Imagine, if my nephew was running around in that area (where the bullet came through), It could have hit him,” said the 36-year-old.
“I’m afraid for my own safety. What if more bullets hit my house? My biggest concern is that if more bullets fly over, I will not have a place to live.”
PROPOSED ASEAN MEETING
Although the situation in Myawaddy seems to have quietened down, Thai security forces are remaining alert, patrolling more spots along the border in case tensions flare up again.
Thailand has proposed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convene a meeting to address the latest developments in Myanmar.
“A message (requesting for an ASEAN meeting) has been sent to members two weeks ago. We are waiting for responses,” said foreign minister Parnpree.
“(ASEAN chair) Laos is working very fast on this, but we must wait for answers from the other countries. We will hear from them soon so there could be another ASEAN-level meeting.”
While it is unclear when the meeting will take place, it is clear that Thailand is eager to try and play a bigger role in pushing for more progress in tackling the Myanmar crisis, before it spills over even more across its borders.
