(Naypyidaw, 19th) – The Myanmar Armed Forces continue military operations within the Myanmar-Thai border areas to prevent armed members of the Karen National Liberation Army and People’s Defense Force from hiding, and to stop foreign nationals from crossing the border illegally to engage in online fraud and gambling activities.
On September 9th, the Myanmar Army launched an offensive around the Letkatow Pagoda hills, successfully dispersing concealed terrorist militants. They advanced in stages, retaking New Letkakaw Town, which was built with assistance from the Nippon Foundation of Japan in 2015 as a settlement for people displaced by conflict. As of October 5th, this town has been fully reclaimed under the control of the Myanmar Army.
Meanwhile, the Myanmar Army also carried out clearing operations in the KK district near the Myanmar-Thai border. During this period, there were a total of six major and fifty-two minor skirmishes, resulting in the deaths of ten militants, with sixteen weapons and related equipment seized.
In the KK district, the army discovered thirty sets of Starlink receivers and accessories, and took control of multiple buildings, including ten single-story houses, one hundred double-story houses, twenty four-story buildings, two five-story buildings, twenty single-story shops, thirty double-story shops, fifteen single-story warehouses, twenty double-story warehouses, ten four-story warehouses, and twenty-one under-construction double-story buildings. Additionally, they found ten three-story, five four-story, five five-story buildings, and two single-story clinics, detaining a total of 2,198 staff members (1,645 men and 455 women).
Preliminary investigations indicate that the buildings and land within the KK district lack official government approval or legal property ownership documents, and have also not received construction approval from the hotel and tourism department. As those responsible have not appeared following summons, related investigations and legal actions will continue according to procedures.
According to the Myanmar Army, the recent momentum has been strong, and the Souchinda outpost, which fell into the hands of the Karen National Liberation Army and People’s Defense Force last year, was retaken on October 17. Yesterday, the 1078 Hill Sweda outpost was also recaptured. Multiple border strategic strongholds have returned to the control of the Myanmar Army, and the military says it will continue to eliminate illegal forces in the border areas.