Myanmar civilians flee to Thailand following border clashes

The Karen ethnic minority in Myanmar captured the last of the Myanmar army's outposts in and around Myawaddy last week. Clashes began when the Karen guerillas attacked Myanmar troops hiding near the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge on April 11. Thai officials reported that people had started crossing the border into Thailand due to the fighting since Friday. Witnesses from both sides of the border heard explosions and heavy machine gun fire near a strategic bridge from late on Friday into Saturday. The loss of Myawaddy, which is located near the Thai border, has significantly weakened the junta's control in the region and robbed it of vital earnings from border trade.